‘Sherlock Holmes’ to come alive in erstwhile capital of the Raj

There are no specific references to Shimla in the Sherlock Holmes detective tales, but it is with much excitement and enthusiasm that many in the erstwhile capital of the Raj are awaiting the arrival of members from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, who will be staging a radio play at Bishop Cotton School.

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. He wrote 62 stories about Sherlock Holmes, published between 1887 and 1927, including four novels and 58 short stories. The group visited the Taj Mahal in Agra today and would be publishing a commemorative book after their trip.

The group from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, which was founded in 1951, will be in Shimla from March 5 to 9. The group members will travel here while enjoying the journey on the UNESCO World Heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line. A radio play titled — ‘The Missing Maharaja’ will be performed at the Irwin Hall of Bishop Cotton School on March 7.

“The group of about two dozen people is travelling to Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi and Shimla. Though there is no content or direct reference to Shimla in the Sherlock Holmes tales, most of the places they are visiting obviously have connections to the Raj,” says writer and historian Raaja Bhasin. He will be conducting a heritage walk for the group through Shimla, which is dotted with architectural masterpieces and remnants of the times when it was the summer capital of the Raj.

Bishop Cotton School Headmaster Mathew John said, “It is a privilege and honour to have members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, especially when they have written the play specifically for the occasion. Apart from staff members, three students will also be part of the play.”

“India was an outstanding jewel for Victorian Britain. Many of the characters in the tales of Sherlock Holmes — not least John Watson — have strong links to India, and it is not unlikely that Holmes himself visited India during the Great Hiatus. Therefore, it seems entirely appropriate that the Society is undertaking a pilgrimage to India,” is how the Society explains the reason for its ‘Tour of a Lifetime’ in India on its official page.

“It is a bespoke trip, tailored for the Society not only to visit the sights but also to enjoy special events relevant to the world of Sherlock Holmes and Victorian times that resonate with the interests of the Society,” is how the trip to India has been described.