The Abandoned British Cemetery of Balasore

:By ANIL DHIR
Bhubaneswar:12/11:
The dilapidated and abandoned British era cemetery in Balasore has 33 gravestones including spires and tombs dating back to the 18th century colonial rule.

For the British, Balasore was a favoured maritime centre. The strategic location of the place bordering the Bengal province had also drawn the Dutch, French and Portuguese maritime traders to this coastal pocket.

The graveyard contains the tombstones of Sir Henery Rickett, the first collector of Balasore (1827-36), his wife Lady Rickett (a doctor), captain Morganetc and captain Francis Walter, a hero of British Royal Navy who led several battles in Madras, Goa, Harispur, Pipili port and Balasore. It also houses tombstones of five clergies.

Lady Rickett died in Balasore while Sir Henery Rickett died in England in 1886. But as per his last wish, his moral remains were ferried by sea to this place via Calcutta and his body was buried beside his wife’s. ‘Henry neither forgot Balasore nor Oriya’ is inscribed on the then British administrator’s tomb. Those inscriptions have corroded with the passage of time as the site is now in ruins.

The cemetery was built between 1776 and 1881. Intach had been entrusted to restore the old place a few years ago. However, during a recent visit, I was shocked to see that all the good work we had done has gone to waste.