The Great Victoria was the daughter of the
fourth son of George III of England. She ascended the throne as a queen
at the delicate age of 18 years in 1837, when there was almost unrully
state of affairs in the empire. However, she ruled so well that she
earned reputation all over the world as a benevolent and a just queen.
She married Albert, the Prince of Saxe-Coburg in 1840.
After the Indian uprising of 1857, in the month of November, 1858,
the British Parliament passed an act which transferred the control of
Indian political power from the East-India Company to the British Crown
and to the Representative of the British Parliament. At that time, in
order to restore the confidence of the Indian people in the rule of law,
Queen Victoria issued a Proclamation which was an assurance to the
public and it is very well-known.
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This gorgeous portrait of H.M. the Queen Victoria, in the size of 177
x 260 cms, was the creation of a European artist. In the life-size
portrait, Queen Victoria appears very lively. In the year 1852, in
Bombay Presidency, the first municipality was established in Surat
having its office in the building, that presently accom- modates the
Post Office of Nanpura. In the year 1868, this picture was shifted to
the historical building of Mughal Sarai (the inn) which was constructed
in 1644, by Haqikat Khan during the period of Shahjehan's rule. Because
of its familiar name, its environs were also known as Muglisara. During
the British, rule, this imposing picture was placed in the Central Hall
of the building and after Independence, when that hall was re-named as
Gandhi Hall, oil-paintings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad,
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other national
leaders were installed. Then, in the year 1955, this beautiful
oil-painting of the British Queen Victoria, was shifted to Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel Museum for display.
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