Minto Park, Prayagraj – A reminder of a fake apology by the British

Many historians believe that the proclamation read by Lord Canning, the Viceroy of India at Prayagraj was an apology to the people of India for the atrocities committed by the East India Company. But in reality it was a transition to allow even greater atrocities in the name of the Queen. Minto Park is the place where the proclamation was read. This place is a reminder of how a country can be divided and some vested interests will let the enemy in for a couple of hundred years of slavery.

A historical perspective

East India Company arrived in India in 1608 on the pretext of trading. It was a business entity whose only intention was to generate profits. They did not have any moral code of conduct of business and their methods were nothing short of brutal. Many historians put forward this theory that the East India Company was a business establishment and did not represent the British. However that is far from truth. East India Company was actually a front for the British. What their regular officials and politicians could not do in the name of Queen, they did it in the name of business. Politicians, bureaucrats, army officers, engineers, civil servants, everyone did free lancing work for the East India Company.

The 1764 Battle of Buxar was the turning point in the history of British rule in India. The victorious East India Company forced the Mughal Emperor to sign a treaty famously known as the Treaty of Allahabad. It not only imposed certain fines on the Nawab of Oudh and the Mughal Emperor, it also gave tax collection rights across the complete eastern portion of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. East India Company achieved this feat after 150 years of presence in India.

East India Company continued its oppressive regime and expansion but within the next 100 years it was going to face another bloody uprising. That was the First War of Independence of 1857. As usual, this so called uprising was crushed with brute force and merciless killing and decimation of entire villages. In the heart of the city of Prayagraj is the Company Garden as the locals call it fondly. It was renamed as Chandrashekhar Azad Park after independence. This was the place for two villages which were totally destroyed by the East India Company and all the residents of the villages were killed and they constructed a garden in that place. These two villages were Samdabad and Sultanpur Bhava with total of a thousand residents. Each and every person who was suspected of participating in the uprising was hunted down and summarily executed. There was an uproar in the British Parliament following which it was decided that British will now directly rule India.

On 1st November 1858, Lord Canning read out the declaration of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation from this platform. This signalled the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British. Of course the atrocities and exploitation continued. Now in the name of law and the Queen.

A continued struggle will ensure that the British are not able to stay in India for more than a 100 more years.

In 1910 an enterprising bureaucrat, Lord Minto decided to build a park and named it after himself. He also erected the marble pillar which stands today as a reminder. Minto Park is now known as Madan Mohan Malviya Park and is a green oasis on the banks of Yamuna river.

Location of Minto Park

The construction of New Yamuna Bridge has tucked away the entrance of Minto Park under the bridge. The entire expanse of the park is visible while climbing the bridge. The park is fenced from all sides with only one entrance. There is also a gate which faces Yamuna river but remains permanently closed.

Park Attractions

Despite the checkered past, this place today is one of the green lungs of the city. It is well maintained by the local authorities. It has security as well as basic amenities. One of the main attraction of the park is the cafe which is a stop over for many park going people.

There is an included arboriculture department which manages the various plants and trees within the park premises. Typically this place is not on the tourist circuit, however the locals enjoy it quite a bit.