George V Statue

Was there ever a king who visited India twice during his reign? The imposing George V Statue, standing proudly near the Flower Bazaar Police Station, reminds us of just such a monarch. This statue commemorates King George V, the only king-emperor to visit India twice while on the throne. He first came in 1905 as the Prince of Wales. His second visit was in 1911 for the Grand Coronation Durbar. The George V Statue, a gift from Dewan Bahadur Kushaldoss Chaturbhujadoss, was unveiled in 1914. It was sculpted by Sir Bertram Mackennal and cost a staggering ₹45,000. This statue is a testament to the king’s visits and the renaming of Black Town to George Town in 1911, honoring his first visit. Interestingly, this statue isn’t the only one dedicated to George V in Chennai. Another, sculpted by M.S. Nagappa in 1935, once graced the entrance to the harbor. It was later relocated to the Government Museum grounds to make way for an elevated road. Sadly, the George V Statue at Flower Bazaar has seen better days. It stands amidst neglect, often used as a drying rack for clothes or a parking spot for bikes. The area around the statue serves as a temporary home for the homeless, and vendors hawk their wares nearby. The statue itself bears the marks of time, with cracks and plants sprouting from its weathered surface. It remains a poignant symbol of a bygone era, waiting to be appreciated and restored to its former glory.