Seminar onCHARLES MANT

Mayo College

• Several designs were submitted in Grecian, Indo-Saracenic and Kolhapur styles by different engineers. The viceroy finally adopted Major Mant's Indo-Saracenic design in June 1875. The construction began in 1877 and was completed in 1885 at a cost of RS. 3.28 lakhs. Major Mant's design became a classic symbol of Indo-Saracenic architecture and apart from being quoted in architectural courses even today, the design now lies in the archives of the British Museum in London.

Mayo College

Mayo College

• Mayo College is a public school founded by the 6th Earl of Mayo, who was Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872.

• The school is located in Ajmer, in the state of Rajasthan, India.

• With a view to providing the leaders of the princely states with an education at par with British standards the British Raj proceeded to construct a school, house students and impart education to the Indian elite, particularly the princes and nobles of Rajputana.

• The idea for the college was first proposed on May 28, 1869 by Colonel Walter. The school was founded in 1875 and Colonel Sir Oliver St John became its first principal.

Mayo College

Mayo College• The founder's intention was to create an Eton of India. The

1st Earl of Lytton, Viceroy of India, said in a speech on campus in 1879:– " The idea was well expressed long ago by Colonel Walter in an

excellent and most suggestive report which may have influenced Lord Mayo when he founded the present college. In that very sensible report Colonel Walter pointed out that what was then most needed for the education of India’s young rulers and nobles was an Indian Eton. Ajmer is India’s Eton and you are India’s Eton boys.” " [2]

• Mayo College is one of the oldest Public Schools in India and is considered amongst the best boarding schools in the country,[3].

• Students attending school refer to themselves as Mayoites and alumni as Old-Mayoites.

• Mayo College has a well established exchange programme for students to travel overseas to enrich their studies.

Mayo College

• The Main Building of Mayo College was designed by Major Mant in the Indo Saracenic style popularised by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, the State Engineer of Jaipur. For the construction of the Mayo College Main Building, several designs were submitted in the Indo-Saracenic, Grecian and Kolhapur styles by different engineers, but finally, Major Mant's Indo-Saracenic design was adopted by the Viceroy in June 1875

Mayo College

• The construction of the white marble building of the college began in the year 1877 and was ultimately completed in the year 1885 and the cost of construction went up to Rs. 3.28 lakhs. From then onwards Major Mant's design became well known as a classic symbol of Indo-Saracenic architecture and also became a very important and oft quoted example in the architectural courses even today.

• This was composed from the design furnished by Mr. Lockwood Kipling, a former Principal of the School of Arts, Lahore and father of the famous Rudyard Kipling.

• In the Upper Centre of the Shield are Mayo Arms, and Quarterings, a Lion Rampant and an Open Hand.On the right and left are the Sun and the Moon, typical of Suryawanshi and Chandrawanshi, the two great families of Rajputs. Below are the Panch Rang, the five sacred colours of the Rajputs, Red, Gold, Blue, White and Green. In the centre of which is a Rajput fort - two towers connected by a curtain. The Supports are on the right, a Bhil warrior with string bow and quiver full of arrows. On the left a Rajput, armed at all points, wearing a steel helmet with three plumes, a shield on his back, a dagger and Qatar in his belt, and a suit of chain covered with embroidered cloth and gauntlet on his hand.

• The motto is " Let there be Light ". The badge is a peacock, the sacred bird of Rajputana, standing on a two edged, two handed Rajput Sword Khanda.

Some Facts about Mayo College

• Mayo's first student, H.H. Maharaja Mangal Singh of Alwar, arrived at the school gates in October 1875 on the back of an elephant accompanied by 300 retainers and a menagerie of tigers, camels and horses!

• One of the school's long standing traditions is meeting for tea in the lawns known as Mughal Gardens immediately after the Annual Prizegiving Ceremony; it is believed that Mr. MN Kapur (who subsequently went on to become one of Modern School New Delhi's most respected & beloved principals) did away with the act of using a rope to divide English guests and Indian guests at this ceremony.

• The Annual Prizegiving, one of the oldest ceremonies at Mayo, has seen many a respected and well known individual presiding as Chief Guest including Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, Lord Chelmford, Governor General of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Ex President of India, HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur, HH Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Dr Zakir Husain, Ex President of India, Dr Karan Singh, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Ex Prime Minister of India, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, H.H. Sayyid Faher Bin Taimur of Oman, HM Birendra Shah, King of Nepal, Sardar Khushwant Singh, HH Madhavrao Scindia, Sir Peter Ustinov, Mr Jaswant Singh, etc.

Some Facts about Mayo College

• Mayo College has Sports Facilities of the highest standard for students and staff consisting of many playing fields for Football, Hockey and even a picturesque Cricket Ground with a view of the Aravali Hills and a beautiful old Red Sandstone Pavilion. The Squash Players may choose between the Modern Glass Backed courts or the Historic Fanshawe Courts, open to sky. Currently, a 9 hole Golf Course has been constructed in campus.

• The main sport at mayo are football and cricket. Football unites the whole mayo spirit and passion together at Mayo. The Mayo football team won the IPSC football tournament in 2008.

• A new nine golf course has come up at Mayo in 2008 making it the only school in India to have one.

• Visitors to Mayo College often stay in the heart of the sprawling campus in the Oman Guest House located in close proximity to the Principal's Residence and the Basketball Courts.

– The other famous building made by charles mant in India is Laxmi Vilas

Laxmi Vilas

• The Lakshmi Vilas Palace, an extravagant building of the Indo-Saracenic school, was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890 at a cost of GBP180,000. Major Charles Mant was the architect.

Laxmi Vilas

It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. It is also called The Maharaja palace.

MAHARAJA PALACE

Laxmi Vilas

• It is reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built in the nineteenth century and four times the size of Buckingham Palace. At the time of construction it boasted the most modern amenities such as elevators and the interior is reminiscent of a large European country house. It remains the residence of the Royal Family, who continue to be held in high esteem by the residents of Baroda

Laxmi Vilas

• Its ornate Darbar Hall, which is sometimes the venue of music concerts and other cultural events, has a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgium stained glass windows and walls with intricate mosaic decorations. Outside of the Darbar Hall is an Italinate courtyard of water fountains. The palace houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta by Fellici. The grounds were landscaped by a specialist from Kew Gardens. The palace is open to the public and an audio tour is available.