The Hindu : Karnataka News : A forgotten cemetery LIVING HERITAGE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

A forgotten cemetery LIVING HERITAGE

Efforts have not been made to preserve this monument

IN RUINS: A view of the cemetery in Chitradurga.

The ancient town of Chitradurga is most famous for its fort. Several other historical places in the city are unfortunately not as popular partly because of the negligence by the Department of Archaeology. A fascinating place that is now in ruins is the Christian cemetery located in the heart of the city. The cemetery has a conflicting history. Records indeed confirm that this ancient monument was constructed by the British. There are four historians of the city who have re searched the history of Chitradurga but who present conflicting accounts of the cemetery. Interestingly, the Chitradurga gazetteer makes no mention of it. In The History of Chitradurga (1979) by M.V. Srinivas, there is reference to sectarian violence between Protestant and Roman Catholic British soldiers after the overthrow of the Mysore kingdom under Tipu Sultan. Several Protestants soldiers were killed and it is believed that the cemetery has the tombs of the soldiers and their family members who died in the violence. According to professor Lakshman Telagavi, Head of Department of Kannada at Hampi University, during the British period, a warehouse storing gunpowder blew up which killed several soldiers who were buried in the cemetery.

B. Rajashekharappa, an historian and epigraphist, says that during the British rule a fight erupted among the soldiers over treasure which resulted in the death of many soldiers and their family members, who were later buried in the cemetery, between 1799 and 1780.

This date can also been seen on the existing epitaphs inside the cemetery. The dates engraved on cenotaphs go back to 1803. The graves might have been constructed even before that, but since several epitaphs have been stolen, it is not possible to establish the precise date of construction of the cemetery. Irrespective of its confusing history apparently no efforts have been made to preserve this enchanting monument which is now in an abysmal condition. Several epitaphs in granite have been stolen and some are in a dilapidated condition.

The monument is now under the possession of Church of South India (CSI).

FIROZ ROZINDAR IN CHITRADURGA

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