In Lucknow, as in other parts of the world, graves mean little to some people, but a search on the internet proves otherwise! What one will find on this blog isn't even 'a drop in the vast ocean' of tears that would have been shed if it were possible to calculate. The names, the sad poetry, quotes and expression of grief of the loved ones all being ground to dust. "...We always say that the history of a parish is in its graveyards..." Passage West (from a blog and book by Jim Murphy)
Hi George,
ReplyDeleteSince you've mentioned the Chiria Jheel cemetery (never even knew it was called that), could you give us more about it? From the dates given, it seems it was closed for burial once the Nishatganj cemetery opened. Are the graves still there and are inscriptions readable? My mum and Aunty Audrey Jehangir were co-workers of the Missionaries of Charity, and I went with them to the place on Sapru Road a few times -- always wanted to explore the cemetery but never got the chance.
By the way, we now have a grand-daughter, Kiran Isobel Leslie, born on the 4th of May -- a lovely little girl. Everyone is delighted!
Best,
Glenda
Hi Glenda,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the arrival of your grand-daughter! It's a loverly feeling seeing a grandchild grow up. I guess you'll be spending sometime there!
The Oliver Rd cemetery is what we called it before. I found the name in the Fibis records and now it also comes up on the net.
I visited the cemetery last summer. The sisters/church is careful because the ASI wants possession so I had to coax the head sister to allow me to examine the graves and photograph them. To convince her I showed her all the snaps on my phone.
Initially, I was impressed by the condition of the graves, but later I discovered that some headstones were planted at the head of other graves, which means some graves had been removed. However, the over all condition and inscriptions are good except for a few. I did count them but cannot remember the number. This cemetery was always locked before the missionaries took it over. The snaps of the graves are mixed up on my blog. I should have separated them as I've done with other cemeteries. I'll find a way of pointing you to some of them.
Cheers
George