Statue of Shet Cursetjee Manockjee (Khada Parsi) Year-1860, (Code : 177)

- Archival Photo Print

The statue of Shet Cursetjee Manockjee, who founded the Alexandra Girls English Institution, which still exists, was erected and installed by his youngest son, Manockjee Cursetjee. It is said that the young Manockjee, a judge in the Small Causes Court, was impressed by a fountain ordered by the government of Chile and ordered a replica. The figure of Ceres in the original was substituted with a life-size bronze statue of his father, by John Bell of London. The inscription on the main column read, “Trust in God and be not daunted.” It cost him Rs 20,000, a princely sum in those times.

The family later gifted the statue to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the condition that it be maintained well. A Grade I heritage structure, the statue fell prey to vandalism but has been restored to its lost glory. The restoration also included the fountain at the base of the Corinthian column and replacement of the stolen lamps.  It continues to stand at its original place, which is in the V of a two-armed flyover at Byculla.