Saturday, 5 January 2008

A little history lesson - The Chattri



Today J1, J2 & I visited the Chattri on the South Downs. The Chattri (which means umbrella in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu) is a small monument dedicated to the Indian Soldiers who died in the First World War, particularly the 53 Hindu and Sikh soldiers who died in hospitals in Brighton and whose remains were cremated at this spot. The memorial was designed by E C Henriques from Mumbai and the dome with its eight pillars are built from white Sicilian marble. Three large granite slabs lie over the original concrete cematory bases.

To reach it we had to walk through a field with cows in it. OK, they were rather a long way away but J1 is rather nervous of them and when we saw some RUNNING in the distance we nearly turned back. We also had to walk past another fenced area of cows. I didn't really like them especially as they started following us along the fence. I know they look harmless, but don't be fooled by their soft eyes, they mean business!

There were LOADS of 'em.
The Chattri is barely visible from a distance as it's surrounded by trees in a field in the middle of nowhere. It's a beautiful isolated spot. You can just about see the top of the dome in the photo below:


Here I am the reading the inscription on the monument, written in Hindi and English:



It says:
"To the memory of all the Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the service of their King Emperor in the Great War, this monument erected on the site of the funeral pyre where the Sikhs and Hindus who died in hospital in Brighton passed through the fire is, in grateful admiration and brotherly affection dedicated"
Here is the view inside the domed roof:


And to end the little history lesson, here I am looking rather handsome:

24 comments:

Stanley said...

Jax!

I love the way you ended your history lesson with your handsomeness ~ as it should be.

That whole lesson was very cool. I really like the spot where they erected the memorial... cows or not.

Were you reading the inscription in Hindi or English (or both)?

Goober love & smooches,
Stanley

Amber-Mae said...

Wow, what a great day you had with your hoomans! That Chattri sure is nice. Those Indian Soldiers who died will never be forgotten. Woh, those cows are scawie looking but I bet they have the best tender meat in them! Heehee...

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Katherine and Pippa said...

What a great post. Mistress has a degree in history and archaeology but she is always on the look-out for more info. We loved reading this.

Pippa and mistress.

Snowball said...

Thank you for the valuable history lesson.

Did you bark at the cows? They look really mean. I dun think I will like them too.

You are very handsome all the time. Not only in the last picture.

Luv,
Snowball

Gus said...

Thank you for sharing the lovely spot with us

Gus n Teka

Agatha and Archie said...

How interesting!! Those cows look rather scary(in a cow sort of way) What we found most interesting about the whole lesson (but not surprising to us) is that you can speak Hindi. Love A+A

Duke said...

What a beautiful spot! The cows do look kinda scary! Did you explain the bully stick process to them! That will make them think twice about messing with you, Jackson!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Harry said...

You are indeed looking very handsome. Thanks for the history lesson. Isn't there another Indian looking building in Brighton?

Toodle pip,
Harry x

Asta said...

Jackson
Thank you fow that lesson..it's a lovely memowial and the countwysie looks gweat even with the scawy cows, but as oosual, you awe the most bootiful wondewful site awound! You'we looking vewy handsome!!!sigghhhh..
smoochie kisses
Asta

Noah the Airedale said...

Thanks for the history lesson Jackson. We love this kind of post, it's nice to learn something new and of course it's good to see your handsome self.

Hugs and tail wags
Noah Willow Tess & Lucy

Randi said...

Hi Jackson!

What an educational field trip! & I think you make that monument look even more fantastic!

Love & Licks,
Randi

Lorenza said...

Hi, Jackson
Thanks for sharing this interesting story! Sure you had fun with your humans!
Have a good night
Lorenza

The Black and Tans. said...

Hi Jackson

We like all the outdoor historical sites too it means we get to visit them as well.
Thank you for telling us all about The Chattri, very interesting.

Molly and Taffy

Urban Smoothie Read said...

u had a veli informative trip to a historical place..

i wish i was there to read d monument too...

the many Bs said...

hi Jackson, we like that history lesson about The Chattri. we are not very well educated in history, so this expands our education a bit.

we're glad that you were safe from those cows. we would not trust them one bit.

woofers.

ChaChi Lu said...

Jackson!

Wow! What an adventure! You are so lucky!

~ChaChi and JET

Lenny said...

Hey Jackson! I'm back and catching up on all your posts. Thanks for the historical info, and you do indeed look very handsome. My auntie got LICKED by a cow at the fair once. EW!

Your friend, Lenny

Asta said...

Hello vewy Handsome Jackson
How awe you today??I hope you had a gweat weekend,it's gotten wawm hewe again..it's vewy confoosing, like spwing,without the flowewes and we nevew even had snow ow winter
smoochie kisses
Asta

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

You are very handsome, and that is a great history lesson. You are one smart dog!
--JB

Kirby said...

Hi Jackson,

What a cool history lesson, thanks for sharing with us. The Chattri is very lovely looking. I love how isolated it is. It's kind of funny all those cows in the fields and then Bam, there's this beautiful monument! You look quite handsome modeling out in front. Glad to see you all had such a good time!

Your pal,
Kirby

Simba and Jazzi said...

You are looking very handsome, nearly as good as me lol.

Simba xx

Myeo said...

Jackson

That is a nice picture of you... if only it was bigger.

Love
Boy n Baby

Queen of Halloween said...

I'd love to go for walks with my mommy also but I draw the line of having to go on a leash with halter or collar! I lay down until she takes it off! I guess that's why I have to miss out on all of the cool places you guys get to go...if we had any cool places to go to? Glad to see you make sure they take lots of pics of you! Purrs...Suki

Asta said...

Jackson
I'm so vewy glad you appwove of little Myrna being with us...Seymouw kind of wote me to twy to explain..he thought she was giwlie!?!?
I'm just glad she's my sissy...awe we welated now???
It's all vewy confoosing. Do you think hew name is weally Myrna??
smoochie kisses
Asta