Humans have always honoured the deceased with elaborate rituals since the dawn of time. Ancient megalithic tombs, flamboyant monuments like Taj Mahal and pyramids are some of the most beautiful ways of remembering the ones who ceased to exist. As a part of the series on cemeteries, City Express takes a gander at the Indian Christian Cemetery on Hosur Road.A stroll through the cemetery shows tombs bearing ornate motifs of gargoyles, angels and Christ, offering a slice of history embedded in the soil. Delicately carved stones, intricate art work and magnificent statues adorn the graveyard. One of the tombstones had the Bible chiselled out of granite with an angel overlooking the deceased. Established in nineteenth century, the garrison cemetery was exclusive to British officers serving in India, their families, and members of the church. Also, combatants of the Commonwealth forces from World War II can be seen buried here. Eventually, it was proposed to open the cemetery to everyone. Two of the four sections in fact are still referred to as the European cemetery. There are several graves dating as far back as 1840 and contain interesting cenotaphs and epitaphs like The King hath taken away from our sight and hath set one pearl in his crown so bright. Embellished with exquisite marble and granite figures, the tomb stones here are indeed miniature architectural marvels. Wading through lush green fields of memories and departure, some of the modern headstones also contain ceramic memorial portraits of the deceased.The cemetery is run by a group of churches in the city. While some tombs are tribute to soldiers by comrades, others are a mark of respect to eminent musicians, authors and loving members of various families. Rich in contours and structural configurations, these cemeteries exude sheer poetry and are a testament to scenic splendour in modern times in the city. Plight of tombsFading epitaphs, broken headstones and unmarked graves of scores of soldiers are some of the issues plaguing the Indian Christian cemetery on Hosur Road. Also, segregation of modern and ancient burial places is far from organised. To our dismay, seen amidst the tombs are plastic wrappers and bottles, liquor bottles and piles of filth. Over the years, several new graves have been dug up beside the old ones thereby destroying the harmony of the landscape. City Express delves into some of the major issues the cemetery faces in terms of maintenance.With space constraint haunting cemeteries all over Bangalore, Naga, caretaker of the Indian Christian Cemetery, expresses his concern over the issue, “This is one of the oldest graveyards in the city. And, we are always short of space. With demands hitting beyond 50 every month, it becomes impossible for us to maintain cleanliness at the graveyard. In terms of maintenance, it is a constant struggle to cope with overgrown weeds in and around the graves rendering them inaccessible to people. Hence, it becomes quite difficult for relatives to visit the graves and pay their respects to the dead.” Preservation of structures of intrinsic historical significance, no doubt, is of prime concern. And, stern measures need to be implemented to rid the ground of weeds and trash. However, over the years fewer cases of vandalism have been reported as the cemetery has strengthened their work force. “We have enough people working on maintenance as well as security issues here. Also, proper measures are ensured to keep the cemetery clean. During monsoons, we try and pull out overgrown weeds as much as possible, “ says an official on condition of anonymity.Well, lost in unkempt graves, are the embodiment of memories, thoughts and consciousness. And, as you observe the sorrowful ambience seeping through various head stones; it is only natural to be mesmerised by the beauty in simplicity.
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