Lucknow, September 23
The proposed visit of two groups of British visitors on a ‘Mutiny Tour’ seems to be in deep trouble. Apprehending a threat to the law and order situation the district administration may restrain them, admitted Lucknow DM Chandrabhanu on Sunday.
The 43 odd tourists in two groups had a programme scheduled for Tuesday to visit the Residency to pay homage to Indian and British martyrs. It, however, may not materialise now, as the state BJP is adamant not to let them enter the main theatre of action in Lucknow during the Great Uprising of 1857.
"The government must ban their entry into the state capital on Monday or else the BJP will take to streets to register its protest," declared senior party leader Lalji Tandon.
The party has declared to observe Monday as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ to mark the victory of Indian soldiers over the British who had been held captive in the
Residency.
Speaking to TNS principal secretary (Home) J.N Chambers agreed that “celebrating the victory of the British in 1857” would not be allowed. However, he did not see much harm in a group of British tourists paying floral tributes at the grave of their dead soldiers.
Giving details of the tour Tournos Travel representative Prateek Hira told TNS that Palanquin Travels of UK had organised the ‘Mutiny Tour’ with their organisation providing local support.
According to Hira the members of the group, all above 65 years, are in a state of shock at the strange turn of events.
While one group of 21 visitors comprises the retired officers of the 60th Royal King’s Rifles. This is the group that is carrying plaques about the bravery of its regiment that has created the controversy.
Eminent British historian Dr Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, who has written many authoritative books on Lucknow, heads the other group of 22 tourists. Her newest oeuvre, a major book on The Great Indian Uprising 1857-58 is to appear soon.
This group, includes Sir Mark Havelock-Allen, the great great grandson of Sir Henry Havelock, who recaptured ‘Cawnpore’ (Kanpur) and helped break the historic siege of Residency in Lucknow. He was to pay respects at the tomb of his ancestor situated at Alambagh.
Giving a profile of the remaining members of this group Hira said all of them do not have ancestors directly associated with the event. “However, all of them are keenly interested in history and want to have a first hand experience of the places that are part of Mutiny history and so deeply engraved in the British psyche”
Sharing the proposed scheduled programme at the Residency, Hira said, “After hoisting the Indian flag the Indian National Anthem was to be played. After that two wreaths were to be placed, one for the Indian and the other for the martyred British soldiers”.
After that there were to be brief religious services of Gurbani, Biblical hymns and recitations from other religious books.
However, a section of the Hindi press launched a frontal attack on the visit following which the BJP took it up as a insult to the nation.
The team’s visit to Meerut and Agra on Thursday and to Ghaziabad on Friday had sparked off a controversy with the saffron brigade leading a strong protest.
BJP activists showed black flags to the team when it visited Meerut. In Ghaziabad, ABVP members desecrated the graves of British soldiers and officers at the cemetery near Hindon River and staged demonstrations in Mainpuri and Jhansi.
Joining the BJP in condemning the visit is a section of Muslim clerics. Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad and All-India United Muslim Morcha president Dr M.A Siddiqui said the proposed visit of the British group was shameful and demanded an immediate ban on the same.
