British cemetery in Assam in a state of neglect

Dibrugarh, Mar 20: At the heritage British cemetery in Dibrugarh district of Upper Assam , it is only bushes which can be seen.

“Some renovation work happened two years ago but now no work for the development of the cemetery has happened. Bushes have sprouted up everywhere. Recently, a tourist from a foreign country came here searching for their relative’s grave but they didn’t find the grave,” said Biplab Das, caretaker of the Christian cemetery.

The cemetery built during East India Company rule in 1862-63 for Rs 4,812 in the middle of Dibrugarh town is in a state of neglect.

The lackadaisical attitude of the Dibrugarh district administration and lack of maintenance has turned the cemetery into a jungle.

Altogether 103 British nationals were laid to rest in the cemetery. The first person laid to rest was 33-year-old British corporal Thomas Trail. A grave of Britisher John Henry Wagentreiber of 1776 is also lying at the cemetery.

The cemetery, situated along Assam Trunk Road near India Club, covers an area of 68,608 square feet and measures 168 feet in length and 2,556 feet in breadth.

The grave of 29-year-old William Alexander Mackenzie Duncan, who was Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh (headquarters of undivided Lakhimpur district), also lies in the cemetery.

It might be noted that some renovation work was done in the cemetery but the work was not up to the mark. Sources said the funds which were alloted for the development of the cemetery was not properly utilised.

“It is most disheartening to see that many pucca shops have come up in front of the cemetery. The shops have encroached on the land which belongs to the cemetery. Despite knowing everything, the district administration remains a mute spectator. The British cemetery should declared as a heritage site because it was one of oldest British cemeteries in the state,” said Minakshi Handique, a retired school teacher.

Earlier, the cemetery was under the care of the Assam Branch Indian Tea Association, but a few years back it was handed over to the Dibrugarh district administration.

“Funds were sanctioned for the development of the cemetery some two years back. But in the name of renovation only plastering and cementing on the grave was done, nothing has been done for the preservation of the cemetery,” alleged a local resident.

It has been alleged that earlier also a fund from Zila Parishad was sanctioned for the boundary wall and renovation work of the cemetery but the fund was not properly utilized.

The cemetery has not yet been handed over to the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation(DMC).

Earlier, steps had been taken against the illegal encroachment but nothing positive has come out.

“We have urged the district administration to clear all encroachments and preserve the cemetery. Dibrugarh has recently been declared as the second city of Assam after Guwahati and the British cemetery situated in the middle of the town can become a tourist destination if proper maintenance can be done,” said a senior citizen.

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