Delhi Durbar 1877: A British Durbar Inspired by Mughal Courts That Proclaimed Queen Victoria Qaisar-i-Hind

During colonial rule, three Delhi Durbars were held by the British Raj in India in 1877, 1903 and 1911. The first Durbar of 1877 was hosted at Delhi’s Coronation Park on 1 January 1877. On the occasion, the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria (24 May 1819 to 22 January 1901), took on the new title Qaisar-i-Hind, the Empress of India. These Durbars were a series of events that marked the coronation of the ruling monarch in India.It was a strategic move by the British to hold a Durbar in India. Such Durbars would often take place in the courts of Mughal rulers, which involved the Emperor meeting his subjects. It gave the Emperor a chance to dress in finery, hear grievances and petitions, exchange gifts and more at these gatherings."Under the reign of Aurangzeb,

the Mughal Empire had reached its zenith; its wealth and opulence inspired European monarchies as well. While the Mughals had expanded their empire through alliances and conquests, British ambitions found a route through trade. As their influence in the Indian subcontinent increased, many Mughal cultural practices were appropriated by the British, who believed themselves to be the ‘natural heirs’ to the Mughals in India," states the website of The Heritage Lab.

Delhi was always chosen as the venue for these Durbars, despite Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) being the capital. For the British, Shahjahanabad, the Mughal capital, was associated with prosperity.The Durbar of 1877 was conducted with great pomp and display, showcasing the military might of the colonial power. It was attended by 68,000 people, along with 15,000 British and Indian troops. "In addition to the Crown’s Viceroy of India, Robert Bulwer-Lytton, and British governors, sixty-three Indian maharajas (Hindu kings), nawabs (Muslim noblemen or people of high status), and other dignitaries gathered for celebrations and banquets over a 14-day period. It was the first time in the history of India that Indian royalty had come together with the shared goal of paying homage to the British Crown," wrote Nuzhat Khatoon, South Asian Reference Specialist, Asian Division, in an article published on the Library of Congress Blogs.

Maharajas of princely states were welcomed with gun salutes, and they displayed their wealth by wearing opulent outfits and jewellery. According to reports, 400 rulers and 63 princes attended the event that went on for 14 days. "For example, the Nizam accessorised his sober black dress with a yellow turban bearing a large, sparkling diamond. His elephant carried him into the grounds on a canopied seat, or howdah, embroidered with gold thread. Each ruler received a gold commemorative banner and medal as a personal gift in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s proclamation as Empress of India. Unfortunately, these tokens given to the Indian rulers also symbolised their status of subjugation to the British Empire," wrote Khatoon.This Durbar was not attended by Queen Victoria. In fact, the Delhi Durbar of 1911 was the only event that the reigning monarch, King George V and Queen Mary, attended in person. During the Durbar of 1877, the Empress was represented by the Viceroy, the 1st Earl of Lytton. According to Mark Cartwright in an article published in World History Encyclopedia, "The viceroy's platform had a great canopy, the poles of which displayed symbols of Great Britain, such as the cross of Saint George and the Union Jack flag. Hanging over the seated viceroy was a massive gilt-framed portrait of Queen Victoria signed by the Empress herself."

The proclamation address of Queen Victoria was read in Urdu and English. Many promises were made in the proclamation. For instance, she promised that Indians under her rule would be governed by principles of liberty, equity and justice. She guaranteed them religious freedom, education, and access to civil and government jobs. According to the proclamation, all her subjects would be treated equally. Most of these promises never materialised, and the colonial power ruled with an iron fist.