After rejecting the demand to drag down the statue of Robert Clive in Shropshire, the native council is contemplating putting a plaque beside it to clarify the controversial legacy of the person credited with ruthlessly laying the muse of British rule in India within the 18th century.
Clive’s statue has stood in Shrewsbury’s sq. since 1860. The primary governor of the presidency of Fort William, Bengal, Clive died in London 1774. His statue was one among many just lately recognized throughout the UK for removing by Black Lives Matter campaigners.
Steve Charmley, deputy chief of the council, mentioned on Monday: “Right now, as a society, we’re lastly going through as much as painful and shameful durations in our historical past and having to deal with topics that trigger actual misery to some members of our group, particularly once they aren’t managed sensitively. The best way we interpret the previous is vastly vital”.
On July 16, in a gathering of the complete council, 28 councillors voted in favour of the advice that no additional motion be taken on the demand to take away of the statue, whereas 17 voted towards the proposal and one councillor abstained.
Charmley added: “We consider we should always not erase controversial historical past however, fairly than have a good time and glorify such individuals and occasions, discover acceptable methods to mark and study from them…(We) are presently exploring the potential of putting a plaque subsequent to the statue to factually carry extra of his story and background to life.”
Throughout the July 16 assembly, one of many causes talked about to assist the advice that the statue shouldn’t be changed was the existence of Clive’s statue in Kolkata (colonial Calcutta was the preliminary capital underneath the East India Firm).
Clive’s statue in Shropshire has been the topic of a petition and counter-petition.
After 1000’s signed the petition calling for its removing, 1000’s extra backed the counter-petition, insisting that “eradicating statues doesn’t change historical past nor assist us study from it. Shropshire has been influenced by the actions of Robert Clive, whether or not we condone all of his actions or not”.
The Black Lives Matter marketing campaign witnessed protests throughout the UK after George Floyd’s demise within the US, gathering momentum after the statue of slave dealer Edward Colston was pulled down in Bristol in early June. The marketing campaign has prompted a overview of public areas in London and elsewhere on symbols of racism, colonialism and slave commerce.