EDWARD LAW

The Somnauth Temple was one of the holiest of Hindu shrines in India. It had been attacked, looted, and destroyed several times since its erection before the birth of Christ. A Northern Warlord Ruler had raided the temple and stolen the spectacular gates at the tomb. When the British Indian Army of Indians led by British officers and NCOs, conquered the Warlord area, Lord Ellenborough had the huge gates removed and returned to the Somnauth Temple issuing this proclamation which he arranged to have approved by Queen Victoria and have Parliament vote to return the gates. It was a brilliant historical instance of symbols having enormous political effect. Hindus throughout India, most of whom had forgotten about the stolen temple gates, had the British to thank for righting one of the great wrongs of Hindu history.

The Somnauth Temple was one of the holiest of Hindu shrines in India. It had been attacked, looted, and destroyed several times since its erection before the birth of Christ. A Northern Warlord Ruler had raided the temple and stolen the spectacular gates at the tomb. When the British Indian Army of Indians led by British officers and NCOs, conquered the Warlord area, Lord Ellenborough had the huge gates removed and returned to the Somnauth Temple issuing this proclamation which he arranged to have approved by Queen Victoria and have Parliament vote to return the gates. It was a brilliant historical instance of symbols having enormous political effect. Hindus throughout India, most of whom had forgotten about the stolen temple gates, had the British to thank for righting one of the great wrongs of Hindu history.