Why British Built Victoria Memorial Hall | Kolkata Walk Historical Tour

Who was Lord William Bentinck, and why does his statue stand in the Victoria Memorial gardens in Kolkata? This short history documentary explores the man, his reforms in India, and the journey of his bronze statue. Bentinck is remembered for the 1829 prohibition of sati and his role in shaping colonial education policy. But this is not a colonial superhero story: Indian reformers, including Raja Rammohan Roy, were central to the campaign against sati. With a little humour and a closer look at Kolkata’s heritage, we explore: Bentinck’s role as a British colonial administrator The abolition of sati and the contribution of Indian reformers English education and its complicated colonial legacy The statue’s connection with Calcutta Town Hall and its relocation to Victoria Memorial Why remembering a historical figure is not the same as celebrating everything they did A man of reform, a man of empire—and a bronze resident of Kolkata who has been attending public meetings without saying a word. What do you think: should colonial statues honour their subjects, or help us question their history? Share your view in the comments. Subscribe for Kolkata history, heritage walks, and documentary stories that look beyond the postcard. Hashtags #LordWilliamBentinck, #VictoriaMemorial, #KolkataHistory, #IndianHistory, #RajaRammohanRoy, #ColonialHistory, #KolkataHeritage, #history For more information check: https://www.researchgate.net/publicat... https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...