Do you see the bronze? It’s the Ambika Paul Memorial Statue. This isn’t just a statue. It’s a story. A poignant tribute to a young life cut short. Ambika Paul lived only five years. Born in 1963 she died in 1968. She battled leukaemia. Her family moved to London hoping for better treatment. Sadly it was not to be.
The statue itself is beautiful. It’s a bronze sculpture. It shows a young girl. She seems to be holding a pigeon. The Ambika Paul Memorial Statue stands atop a water feature. It’s quite large. It measures 350 cm high and 700 cm wide. The depth is unknown. Sculptor Shenda Amery created it in 1994.
This memorial isn’t just a work of art. It represents a family’s profound love and loss. Lord Swraj Paul commissioned it. He’s Ambika’s father. The inscription behind the statue reads: “Ambika. Wherever you are and whatever you are remember one thing. There is a father mother brothers and sister nephews and nieces some of them have seen you some have only seen your picture. But all of them love you. Swraj Paul. 12th November 1994”. Another inscription on a bronze plaque simply states: “Ambika Fountain. Sculpted by Shenda Amery 1994”.
The inscription is touching. It captures the enduring love of a family. Their grief is palpable. Yet it also speaks of hope. A hope that transcends death. The Ambika Paul Memorial Statue stands as a testament to this hope. It also serves as a reminder to cherish every moment. The memorial’s location at London Zoo is also significant. In 1992 the zoo faced closure. The Paul family donated a million pounds to save it. This resulted in the building of a new children’s zoo and the Ambika Paul Memorial Gardens.
So look again. Look at the bronze girl. See the detail in the sculpture. Feel the weight of the story it holds. This is more than just a statue. It’s a family’s enduring love. It’s a memorial to a little girl. It’s a reminder of the preciousness of life. The Ambika Paul Memorial Statue stands as a symbol of hope in the face of tragedy. Remember Ambika. Remember her story.