Who's Who in India Supplement 1 (1912)/State Entry into Delhi

by Prag Narain Bhargava

STATE ENTRY INTO DELHI.

In accordance with His Majesty's gracious Proclamation of 22nd March, 1911, he made his State Entry into Delhi, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen-Empress, on the morning of 7th December.

The Proclamation was:

"Whereas upon the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, King Edward, upon the sixth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and ten, we did ascend the Throne under the style and title of George the

THEIR MAJESTIES' STATE ENTRY INTO DELHI

Fifth by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India; and whereas by Our Royal Proclamations bearing date the nineteenth day of July and the seventh day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ten, in the first year of Our Reign, we did publish and declare Our Royal intention by the Favour and Blessing of Almighty God to celebrate the solemnity of Our Royal Coronation upon the twenty-second day of June, one thousand nine hundred and eleven; and whereas it is Our wish and desire to make known to all Our loving subjects within Our Indian Dominions that the said solemnity has so been celebrated, and call to Our Presence, Our Governors, Lieutenant-Governors and others of Our officers, the Princes, Chiefs and Nobles of the Native States under Our protection, and representatives of all the Provinces of Our Indian Empire, now we do by this Royal Proclamation declare Our Royal intention to hold at Delhi on the twelfth day of December one thousand nine hundred and

eleven an Imperial Durbar for the purpose of making known the said solemnity of Our Coronation, and We do hereby charge and command Our right trusted and well beloved counsellor, Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, Our Viceroy and Governor-General in India, to take all necessary measures in that behalf.

"Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace this twenty-second day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven and in the first year of Our Reign."

On alighting at the Selimgarh Bastion of Delhi Fort, Their Majesties received certain high officials who were presented to them on the platform; Their Majesties then received the Ruling Chiefs, who were presented to them in the Fort. A procession was afterwards formed, and Their Majesties made their entry into the historic city of Delhi through streets and roads lined with troops and amid the acclamations of hundreds of thousands of their loving and loyal subjects. The procession, which included the Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of Provinces, and the Ruling Chiefs with their escorts, was a most brilliant spectacle.

The Hon'ble Sir John Jenkins presented an Address to Their Majesties as they arrived at the historic Ridge. This was on behalf of the Supreme Legislative Council. His Majesty replied as follows:

"In the name of the Queen-Empress and on my own behalf I heartily thank you for your loyal and dutiful Address, the words of which have deeply touched us.

"They recall those countless messages of affectionate devotion which India, in common with all parts of my Dominions, greeted us on our Coronation in England, and which have been repeated by all classes and creeds of my Indian subjects since our arrival in your country.

"I know from my Governor-General what strength and support he receives from the wise experience of the members of his Legislative Council, the chosen representatives of British India.

"We much appreciate the welcome you offer us on behalf of its peoples. Rest assured that there is no wish nearer to our hearts than that, in the words of your Address, the Indian Empire may continue steadily to advance in the ways of peace, prosperity and contentment."

On the afternoon of the same day, and on the two succeeding days, His Majesty received the Indian Chiefs who came to do homage to him.