Shimla, Sep 21 (Inditop.com) Faded epitaphs, damaged tombstones, moss-covered graves…That is the condition of most British colonial era cemeteries – some two centuries old – in Himachal Pradesh. But now the state has decided to restore their lost glory.
Thousands of graves of India’s colonial rulers are located in once British-dominated settlements like Shimla, Dharamsala, Kasauli, Dalhousie, Dharampur, Dagshai and Subathu. These will get a fresh lease of life, the dignity they deserve, and will attract tourists.
“We are infusing life into the British-era graveyards by refurbishing them. Most of the tourists who visit the cemeteries to pay respect to their family members have been complaining about the deteriorating condition of the graveyards,” tourism principal secretary Manisha Nanda told Inditop.
She said even the London-based British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA) has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the cemeteries.
“The beautified burial grounds would, of course, attract more tourists who are visiting the state to pay homage to their ancestors,” she said.
More than 60 years after the British left, Himalayan towns still attract their descendants who are eager to know their roots.
There are 23 prominent cemeteries in the state, including five in Shimla, the erstwhile summer capital of British India. Some of them are two centuries old.
One of the oldest burial grounds in the state is at Subathu, about 65 km from the state capital. It houses most of the graves of British army officers and men who were killed during the war with the Gurkhas in 1814.
Tourist Mike Bruce from Britain was shocked to see the pathetic condition of the cemetery near Oakover here.
“Is this the way the Indian government treats those who died serving the British? Nobody seems to be serious (about taking care of the graves). Some of the graves have been damaged, while others have simply vanished.
“Epitaphs have faded and even tombstones, which once adorned the graves, have disappeared – either stolen or damaged. Moss is eating into the remains of the graves. I am leaving this place with a very heavy heart,” he said.
Nanda said graves and tombstones would be repaired and memorial parks would be beautified with plants and walking paths and benches repaired.
The graves of eminent people would be accorded special treatment, such as those of Lord Elgin, who was buried at McLeodganj in Dharamsala, and Henry Malooek, an officer in the royal artillery, who died in Shimla in 1887, she said.
To facilitate British tourists, the tourism department has also prepared an inventory of historical churches and cemeteries in the state.
“We now have an inventory of the churches and cemeteries of the British time. This would soon be published in the form of a book. It would be a bible for tourists who are visiting the state in search of the graves and memorabilia of loved ones,” said Manoj Kumar, tourism department deputy director.
He said the book would have photographs and a brief description about each and every grave and church in the state. The list of the graves and churches would be pasted on the website of the tourism department too.
“Guests find it difficult to locate graves. The book would definitely facilitate them,” he said.
The documentation has been done by historian Raja Bhasin with the assistance of BACSA and Christian missionaries.
Himachal Pradesh attracted 9.37 million domestic and 367,000 foreign tourists last year. Kullu and Manali are the hot spots for tourists, followed by Shimla and Dharamsala.
