The Ripon Statue of the Ripon Building

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The iconic white Ripon Building in Chennai is a Neo-classical masterpiece completed in 1913 CE. Serving as the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation for over a century, it was named after Lord Ripon, Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884, who championed local self-governance reforms. I have written in detail about this structure already. You can read the same here.

George Frederick Samvel, Marquess of Ripon, K.G. (the name as inscribed on the base of the statue), served as Viceroy of India from June 8, 1880, to December 13, 1884. For context, the title "Marquess of Ripon" refers to a hereditary rank within the Peerage of the United Kingdom, a legal system of noble titles encompassing both hereditary and lifetime honors. The abbreviation "K.G." stands for Knight of the Order of the Garter, a prestigious chivalric order in Britain.



One might assume that a building named after a person would naturally house their statue. However, in this case, the statue is not in its original location.

Ripon was the only Viceroy/Governor General of India to be born in 10 Downing Street. He was the son of Lord Goderich, a former British Prime Minister. As Viceroy, he resigned midterm in 1884, becoming one of only two to do so (the other being Curzon). His tenure earned unprecedented admiration from Indians for his progressive policies, though Europeans resented his perceived alignment with Indian aspirations. Ripon’s departure was marked by an extraordinary farewell, with Indians honoring him at every stop on his journey from Shimla to Bombay (now, Mumbai).



In 1903, the Congress Party in Madras proposed a statue to commemorate Ripon, but progress stalled. After his death in 1909, G.A. Natesan, the publisher and freedom fighter, revived the initiative in 1910, raising ₹12,500 exclusively from Indian donors. Sculptor Francis Derwent Wood was commissioned to create a bronze statue, unveiled by Lord Pentland in 1915. Initially installed at the entrance of D’Angelis Hotel at Mount Road, it was relocated in 1939 due to traffic congestion.

Now situated within the Ripon Building compound, the statue portrays Ripon in a dignified stance, clad in a ceremonial cloak symbolizing authority. His right arm is extended in a gesture of acknowledgment, while his composed expression reflects his distinguished legacy as a champion of Indian self-governance.

Happy travelling.



Location: 53, Raja Muthiah Rd, Periamet, Kannappar Thidal, Poongavanapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600003, India

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