18th Century British Cemetery In Odisha’s Ganjam In Grave Neglect

Berhampur: An 18th century British cemetery in Ganjam district, which has a huge potential to attract tourists from abroad, particularly European countries, has been languishing in neglect.

The cemetery near Potagada has the graves of mainly the British captains and majors who died in three resistant movements by the rulers of Ghumsur (present Bhanjanagar), Mahuri (Berhampur) and Paralakhemundi from 1753 to 1866 against British rule.

There are about 50 spire-like tombs in the cemetery where besides the British military personnel, bodies of two French persons have been buried.

According to historians, the French, under the leadership of General De Bussy, were the first among the Europeans to establish a factory at Ganjam in 1757 AD. The British East India Company took possession of Ganjam nine years later in 1766 AD under the leadership of Edward Cotsford.

The British rulers, as part of their colonial strategy, wanted subjugation of the rulers of the kingdoms in the area. But Krushna Bhanja in Ghumsur, Narayan Narendra in Mahuri and Narayan Gajapati in Paralakhemundi put up a strong resistance and were engaged in war with the British army to uphold their independence.

Ghumsur resistant movement, which lasted for 113 years from 1753 to 1866, witnessed five Bhanja Kings engaged in seven wars with the British. Some of the British captains and majors who were killed in the wars at Ghumsur, Mahuri and Paralakhemundi were buried at the cemetery, the historians maintained.

The tombs of Britishers included John Maxwell Stone, Chief of the Settlement who died on September 16, 1785; George Hodson, Captain Military Service (December 21, 1800); Anna Maria (May 18, 1811); Samuel Pippe (December 21, 1800); Edward Hare, senior merchant in the Company Civil Service (October 8, 1800); John Tyrrell, Captain in Company Military Service (October 21, 1796) and Lt JW Oliver who died on March 18, 1811.

The state government had identified British Cemetery as a heritage structure during 2010 under the World Bank assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP). The World Bank had drafted a plan for its development and management in collaboration with different agencies to create heritage awareness.

During last one decade, the authorities have built the front gate of the cemetery, whitewashed the spire, constructed the damaged portions of the boundary wall and cleaned the grounds of the cemetery. The development plans seem to have stopped with these steps only.

None of the relatives of the Britishers or French persons buried in the cemetery has visited the site that has their ancestors’ remains.

The locals say though the foreign tourists visit Potagada fort nearby, they give a miss to the cemetery which lacks even basic amenities.