The Hindu : National : Blair comes to angel's rescue

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Saturday, Mar 11, 2006

National

National

Blair comes to angel's rescue

Marcus Dam

HELP FROM ABROAD: The bronze angel atop Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. PHOTO: ARUNANGSU ROY CHOWDHURY

KOLKATA: The office of British Prime Minister Tony Blair has referred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London a rather unusual request from Kolkata: for British technical assistance in getting the bronze angel atop the dome of the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata rotating again. This comes in the wake of a letter to the Prime Minister by city environmental activist S. Datta earlier this year seeking help from his government for "the necessary expertise to overcome the problem".

Buckingham Palace has acknowledged receipt of his letter to Queen Elizabeth informing her of the matter, Mr. Datta told The Hindu here on Friday. The foundation stone for the Victoria Memorial was laid a 100 years ago by King George V - then Prince of Wales.

The angel has stopped rotating on the ball bearings on which it is set since early 1999. Fears have been expressed that "if it remains static for much longer the structure of the monument could be endangered."

Following through Mr. Blair's instructions that were conveyed to Mr. Datta by the Direct Communication Unit at 10 Downing Street last month, the U.K. Government's India and Bhutan Desk Officer, South Asia Group, was informed of the matter.

Last week Mr. Datta received an e-mail from Andy Brand of the South Asia Group stating that his request had been passed on to the British Deputy High Commissioner's office in Kolkata, Mr. Datta said.

Documents relating to the static angel along with a report on the subject downloaded from the Internet edition of The Hindu dated February 8, 2006 were earlier sent to Mr. Brand in support of Mr. Datta's contentions.

The angel cast in plaster of Paris and 4.9 metres tall, first stopped rotating in 1980. Experts summoned by the Victoria Memorial authorities got it to swivel once again.

"A U.K. Government agency, - the English Heritage - , which is concerned with research, conservation and preservation of heritage properties, monuments and buildings in that country has also been seized of the matter," Mr. Datta said.

"I have communicated with Chris Wood who is connected with the agency. Recently a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, to which was referred a public interest litigation petition moved by me first in June 2002 on the matter of the stationary angel, also expressed the desire that the Victoria Memorial authorities may send the relevant technical details to English Heritage," he added.

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