A British officer, Major Waugh, Known to be a reputed botanist was in charge of Lalbagh and the Lalbagh was his almost personal property. He nurtured its growth in several phases. He gifted the garden in the year 1819 to the Governor-General Marquis Hastings, who brought this garden directly under the control of the ‘Botanical Garden of Calcutta’.

Around 1856, Sir Mark Cubbon, the then Commissioner personally supervised the growth and development of Lalbagh and converted Lalbagh into ‘Government Botanical Gardens’. In 1858, one eminent botanist, William New was appointed as the first Superintendent of Lalbagh. William New was appointed as the first Superintendent of Lalbagh. William New was had the rare qualification of being trained earlier in the Royal Kew Garden at England and as such he used his talents for the alround development of Lalbagh.

Subsequently, the second Horticultural show was held on the 31st December 1867. Later in the following years, September 1868 and February 1869, third and fourth shows were held. This was altogether on a large scale than the first and the admission was by tickets, which were purchased by all classes with great enthusiasm. During the Second show in 1867, a dozen packets of fresh English and Italian seeds were presented instead of cash awards. In the year 1869-70, two exhibitions were held on a large scale in Lalbagh at Bangalore. Interestingly, the exhibitions included cattle, sheep, poultry, farm produce, silk, cotton, cereals and country bread horses, all strictly Mysore grown. In the beginning two shows were held one in January (Winter Show) and the other in August or September (Summer Show). Even now, the same tradition is prevailing.

Continuously year after year the Horticultural shows were conducted and the number of people visited very much increased. During the year 1873-74, under the Supervision of Lieutenant Col.Puckle, an officer whose name is associated with many useful works in Bangalore, a show was held at Lalbagh. All other towns like Madras, Poona, Calcutta, Simla and Ooty had only one show in a year. It is only the Lalbagh, Bangalore, which is able to conduct two shows a year and on one occasion it held three shows.

In the Inter-National Horticultural field also, Lalbagh has made a name of repute. In 1881, Lalbagh for the first time participated in the London Exhibition. There the authorities of Lalbagh exhibited 24 wooden models of Indian fruits and vegetables. Such shows were also subsequently organized in other countries as well. The annual exhibitions held hitherto at the Band Stand and its surroundings were frequently threatened by rain as well as the heat of the summer. Hence, small tents were erected in the precincts of the Band Stand in 1882-83 for arranging the Horticultural shows. In the year 1884-85, due to the scarcity of tents special recommendations were made for the erection of a permanent structure for holding the flower shows. John Cameron, the then Superintendent of Lalbagh, took the initiative and prevailed upon the then Maharaja of Mysore, Chamarajendra Wodeyar and sought his permission for the construction of Glass House in 1889. Thus, a beautiful Glass House came into being of Wales laid the foundation stone of the Glass House. Earlier it was called “Albert Victor Conservatory”.

In January 1891, the Horticultural shows were held in the Glass House for the first time. In 1876-77 and 1892-93 due to droughts the Lalbagh shows were limited to one show. Later in 1898, as the city was affected by plague the Horticultural shows did not take place continuously, but only intermittent shows were conducted. The flower shows were once again continuously revived in 1906 on the visit of the Prince of Wales and during that year a special medal was also instituted in the name of the prince. This golden medal was called ‘Prince of Wales Medal’. From the year 1908, children were allowed freely to witness the Horticultural shows at Lalbagh.

Mr.G.H.Krumbiegal succeeded as the Superintendent of Lalbagh in 1908. He was responsible for the founding of “The Mysore Horticultural Society” in 1912. The society owes a great deal to him, for as its Chairman he steered in through hard times and was largely responsible for its existence. He was nominated as a life member of the Society.

During 1912, in order to enhance the glamour of the Horticultural shows, Krumbiegal introduced a special ‘Floral Bicycle Parade’ for young girls. On this occasion, young girls dressed in different colours, took a parade on the floral decorated bicycles, and was an added colourful attraction. Krumbiegal’s twelve year old daughter Hilda Krumbiegal also took part in one such show says a record.

Gradually, the purpose for which the Horticultural shows were organized gained natural appreciation as well as the popularity among the people. Now, during every year, two shows are being regularly held so as to associate with the Republic Day (January 26th) and also on August 15th (Independence Day), which even today attract not only the local people but also the people from outside. The captivating panoramic scenes of the nature are brought live in the monumental Glass House with all the pomp and glory. This colorful reality of the man’s understanding with the ‘nature’ is very well reflected here. It is a reality here that a man has responded to the incredible challenge from the nature. The people of this once glorious ‘Garden City’ can still churn their nostalgic memories of the yester Horticultural shows of Lalbagh.

During his long tenure in the office, Cameron effected good measures to improve this garden. To him goes the credit of the conversion of Lalbagh into both a Botanical and Zoological garden. However, already in 1866 this Zoological garden was actually opened, many rare birds and wild animals were introduced for preservation. Among them was the full grown primitive ape or Gorilla called “Apeman”, popularly. J.P.Sanderson, the then Superintendent of the Mysore Khedda operations and a renowned elephant hunter, had secured a male ‘orangutang’ from Sumatra. L.Rickets, the then Inspector General of Forests in Mysore State, a close associate of Sanderson and a lover of Lalbagh, had secured the orangutang to the Zoological garden of Lalbagh. Thus in October 1891, the authorities of Lalbagh purchased this orangutang for a sum of one thousand rupees. This literally enhanced the prestige and popularity of the Zoo at Lalbagh and gradually attracted visitors. With the result, on an average thousands of people visited Lalbagh daily as per the annual report (1891-92) of Lalbagh. Earlier, only about hundreds visited Lalbagh dally.

The new ‘Apeman’ had thus became a rare thing, especially for the rural folk. People from surrounding villages of Bangalore started pouring into Lalbagh. ‘Orangutang’ was a soft natured sociable animal which used to entertain the onlookers by a variety of its prank games. It was during this peak season that the construction of the famous ‘Glass House’ or ‘Exhibition Building’ was also completed. As the authorities of Lalbagh found it difficult to control the increasing number of visitor, they requested for a platoon of police force for the purpose in 1892. Two monkeys were added subsequently to the Lalbagh Zoo. During the same year, near the ‘Lotus Pound’ in Lalbagh, another small building called ‘Monkey House’ was also built in order to house this Apeman and the monkeys. Since then, they became a great attraction at Lalbagh.

As year rolled by, the Apeman attracted many visitors who liked his pranks. Many a time, the monkeys also obeyed the command given by the delighted onlookers. Normally these apes were given fruits, boiled rice, bread, sugarcane, cucumber, etc. In 1892, one wooden perambulator was added to the zoo, costing twenty rupees. This enabled the orangutang to play with it, pushing it all over the area. Later, a pulling wooden (small) cart was also added to this group of toys for Apeman. All these things provided immeasurable entertainment for the visitors.

The Apeman at Lalbagh did not last long. After seven years of its entry stay here, the animal died of acute diarrhoea in April 1897. On hearing the death of the orangutang, Cameron, who was on an official tour, is said to have returned to Lalbagh and grieved very much as he loved it dearly. After several hours of death, the dead body of orangutang was shifted to the Bangalore Museum. There the animal was given to a taxidermist, in order to enable its preservation.

But, Cameron did not approve the work of the taxidermist and summoned one ‘Van Ingen’, an expert taxidermist at Mysore, in order to correct the specimen. But, Van Ingen also was helpless in the matter, as evidenced in the Annual Report (1897-98) of the Museum. Further, we do not know what happened to the whole thing.

Till 1919, Lalbagh was popular for its good zoo. But in 1920 and later, some of the big animals of Lalbagh were transferred to Mysore Zoo. Only a few birds, rabbits and pigeons were left in the zoo house at Lalbagh. Presently, only the ‘Deer Paddock’, exhibiting only a partial glimpse of the past glory of Lalbagh zoo is seen. The old Pigeon House (constructed in 1892) is still found without the humming sounds of the birds near Deer Park. It is described by the Lalbagh authorities that after 1920 the animal population of the Zoological garden at Lalbagh started dwindling, mainly on account of the changed policy of the Government to concentrate more on the Mysore Zoo. The sad story of the Apeman and other wild animals at Lalbagh makes one feel that at least now the Lalbagh authorities will bring in some animals and birds to help children to entertain themselves and play with them at Lalbagh.

[Author: Vemagal Somashekar. Courtesy: "Glass House – The jewel of Lalbagh " – The Lalbagh Glass House Centenary Souvenir, published by the Secretary, Mysore Horticultural Society, Lalbagh, Bangalore.]