Seminar on

CHARLES 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.