“This is the Victoria Memorial of Lucknow,” said the guide turning towards me with a smile, watching me for some reaction as he pointed at the small monument tucked in a corner of Begum Hazrat Mahal Park in Lucknow. As a Calcuttan, I was proud of the memorial that basked at one end of the Maidan in Kolkata, not because of any colonial hangover but for its magnificent architecture. Others in our organised Kaiserbagh hailed from different cities in India and digested the bit of news without much ado. But I was suitably curious and went forward to take a closer look at the Lucknow namesake. Unfortunately, the gate was closed.

....

According to records, Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob designed the monument in Lucknow. Jacobs is also credited with the designing of several important buildings in India, especially in Rajasthan and is known for his book ‘Jeypore Portolio of Architectural Details’. He was a proponent of the Indo-Saracenic style.

....