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| A typical garden bungalow |
Guwahati, Feb. 8: A few kilometres east of the Kaziranga National Park, a tea garden manager?s bungalow is being readied to host some high-profile guests from the UK. The colonial-style bungalow at Behora tea estate is steeped in history: it is the one where the wife of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1898 to 1905, stayed exactly a 100 years ago.
On February 11, two descendants of Lord Curzon, who is credited with starting the conservation success story of Kaziranga, will check in at the same bungalow to be a part of the national park?s centenary celebrations.
Lord Ravensdale, who used to be called Sir Nicholas Moseley before he became the third baron Ravensdale, and his wife, Lady Verity, will be staying at Behora tea estate till the conclusion of the celebrations on February 17.
?Their visit will be a double delight for the estate. Behora, too, is celebrating 100 years of existence,? an official of the tea estate said over phone.
A member of the celebration committee confirmed Lord Ravensdale and Lady Verity?s participation in the event. He said the couple would take a flight out of London on February 8 and reach Mumbai the next day. ?After a day?s stay in Calcutta, they will leave for Jorhat on February 10 and travel to Behora by road the next day.?
In an email to The Telegraph, Lord Ravensdale said he and his wife were excited about visiting Kaziranga. ?We were at first intrigued and then excited by the invitation. We had not heard about my grandfather?s involvement with Kaziranga, because it is not mentioned in any of the books we had read about him,? he wrote.
Lord Ravensdale said he wanted to donate some Curzon memorabilia to the state, but did not have any. ?Our difficulty is that almost none of Curzon?s possessions came down to my side of the family. Curzon?s three children were all daughters. I am the eldest son of Curzon?s second daughter, Cynthia. Curzon titles and the family house, Kedleston Hall, had to pass through a male heir and so went to his younger brother?s son, together with his possessions from India. Curzon wished these to be in the museum at Kedleston, where they are now.?
The third Baron Ravensdale said he knew of the successful efforts Curzon made to restore and preserve India?s unique and wonderful architectural monuments. ?I was very glad to learn of him and Lady Curzon wishing to make provisions for the preservation of Indian wildlife, too. Before this, there seems to have been far too much senseless shooting of tigers, etc. We will see if there is anything we can do to continue this tradition when we are with you,? he wrote.
David Metcalfe, another relative of the former viceroy, has confirmed his participation in the Kaziranga centennial, but did not disclose his travel plans.
?I was very flattered. The invitation was also to my wife, but she will be in the US. So I am taking my daughter,? Metcalfe said in an email. ?I am very pleased that the wildlife park exists, particularly because this was the brainchild of my grandmother, Mary Curzon.?