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The cemetery is the oldest Christian burial ground in Bangladesh and dates back to early 17th century.<ref name="chowkidar">{{cite journal|last =Llewellyn-Jones | first =Dr. Rosie | author-link = | title =The Narina Cemetery, Dhaka| journal =Chowkidar| volume =13| issue =2 | pages =34-35| publisher =British Association For Cemeteries In South Asia (BACSA)| location =London| date =Autumn 2012| language =English| url =https://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/chowkidar/pdf/chowkidar_13_02.pdf| issn =01416588| access-date = 10 Apr 2024 }}</ref>There are reports of an engraved inscription on a stone at the entrance, that claims that it was founded in the 16th century, but little evidence of such engraving exists today.<ref name="chowkidar"/> There are also reports that Dhaka's first church for the Christian community was established on the site of the cemetery and that priest Sebastian Manrique came to Dhaka between 1624 and 1629 and recorded that there was a church at the location of the cemetery.<ref name="Pieal">{{cite web|url=https://roar.media/bangla/main/bangladesh/narinda-cemetery-columbo-sahib|website=Roarmedia|title=The Tomb of Narinda and the Mysteries of Colombo|author=Jannatul Naym Pieal|access-date=18 November 2022|date=26 December 2018 |language=Bengali}}</ref> There are further references to a church being located at this location, including French gem merchant and traveller [[Jean Baptiste Tavernier]] who visited Dhaka in 1666, and Niccolò Menucci soon after, both referring to a church at this location. It is assumed that [[Augustinians|Portuguese Augustinians]] built the church, and that the present burial ground was originally the burial ground adjacent to the church, commonly referred to as the "church graveyard."<ref name="Pieal"/> |
The cemetery is the oldest Christian burial ground in Bangladesh and dates back to early 17th century.<ref name="chowkidar">{{cite journal|last =Llewellyn-Jones | first =Dr. Rosie | author-link = | title =The Narina Cemetery, Dhaka| journal =Chowkidar| volume =13| issue =2 | pages =34-35| publisher =British Association For Cemeteries In South Asia (BACSA)| location =London| date =Autumn 2012| language =English| url =https://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/chowkidar/pdf/chowkidar_13_02.pdf| issn =01416588| access-date = 10 Apr 2024 }}</ref>There are reports of an engraved inscription on a stone at the entrance, that claims that it was founded in the 16th century, but little evidence of such engraving exists today.<ref name="chowkidar"/> There are also reports that Dhaka's first church for the Christian community was established on the site of the cemetery and that priest Sebastian Manrique came to Dhaka between 1624 and 1629 and recorded that there was a church at the location of the cemetery.<ref name="Pieal">{{cite web|url=https://roar.media/bangla/main/bangladesh/narinda-cemetery-columbo-sahib|website=Roarmedia|title=The Tomb of Narinda and the Mysteries of Colombo|author=Jannatul Naym Pieal|access-date=18 November 2022|date=26 December 2018 |language=Bengali}}</ref> There are further references to a church being located at this location, including French gem merchant and traveller [[Jean Baptiste Tavernier]] who visited Dhaka in 1666, and Niccolò Menucci soon after, both referring to a church at this location. It is assumed that [[Augustinians|Portuguese Augustinians]] built the church, and that the present burial ground was originally the burial ground adjacent to the church, commonly referred to as the "church graveyard."<ref name="Pieal"/> |
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The cemetery originally occupied a narrow strip of land beyond the northern edge of the old [[Mughal]] city of [[Dacca]]. On the eastern edge, the cemetery was bounded by a tributary of the [[Buriganga River]] [refer the painting by [[Johann Zoffany]] below] and the its western side was bordered by gardens and jungle. From the date of establishment, the cemetery seems to have been used by Christians of a wide variety of denominations - Catholics , Armenians and various Protestants.<ref name="chowkidar"/> |
The cemetery originally occupied a narrow strip of land beyond the northern edge of the old [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] city of [[Dacca]]. On the eastern edge, the cemetery was bounded by a tributary of the [[Buriganga River]] [refer the painting by [[Johann Zoffany]] below] and the its western side was bordered by gardens and jungle. From the date of establishment, the cemetery seems to have been used by Christians of a wide variety of denominations - Catholics , Armenians and various Protestants.<ref name="chowkidar"/> |
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In 1632, ethnic conflict peaked between the Portuguese and other nationalities and most Portuguese settlers, traders and priests were ousted on the orders of [[Shah Jahan|Emperor Shah Jahan]] and they fled to [[Hugli-Chuchura|Hooghly]]. Dhaka locals declared solidarity with the emperor and beat the parish priest, Father Bernardo, to death. It is believed that he is also buried in the cemetery.<ref name="Pieal"/> A list of the Augustinian churches established in Bengal was drawn up in 1789, but the Narinda church was not listed. It is assumed that the church was destroyed sometime between 1713 and 1789, but the cemetery remained in use thereafter.<ref name="Pieal"/> |
In 1632, ethnic conflict peaked between the Portuguese and other nationalities and most Portuguese settlers, traders and priests were ousted on the orders of [[Shah Jahan|Emperor Shah Jahan]] and they fled to [[Hugli-Chuchura|Hooghly]]. Dhaka locals declared solidarity with the emperor and beat the parish priest, Father Bernardo, to death. It is believed that he is also buried in the cemetery.<ref name="Pieal"/> A list of the Augustinian churches established in Bengal was drawn up in 1789, but the Narinda church was not listed. It is assumed that the church was destroyed sometime between 1713 and 1789, but the cemetery remained in use thereafter.<ref name="Pieal"/> |
Latest revision as of 14:36, 27 April 2024
Dhaka Christian cemetery | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Christian |
Location | |
Location | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Geographic coordinates | 23°42′56″N 90°25′11″E / 23.715566°N 90.419783°E |
Architecture | |
Date established | est. 1720[1] |
The Dhaka Christian Cemetery (also known as the Narinda Cemetery) is a graveyard situated in Wari, a district of the old town in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established by Portuguese traders in the 17th century and is still in use by members of the Dhaka Christian community. It contains two designated archaeological sites, the Columbo Sahib mausoleum and the tomb of Reverend Joseph Paget. Many of the oldest graves and mausoleums are in a state of disrepair and are being overtaken by unchecked vegetation growth and lack of maintenance, while other parts of the cemetery still see new burials taking place at regular intervals. It is open daily to visitors.
Origins
Notable interments
- Joseph Padget (1724), Chaplain of Bengal, who died while visiting Dacca from India at the age of twenty-six, on 16 March 1724.[7] His grave is the oldest in the cemetery.
- Columbo Sahib[7][11]
- Jane Rennell (1774), the infant daughter of James Rennell[14] and Jane Thackarey (who took a silver model of their infant daughter's grave back to England on their departure from Dacca).[7]
- Robert Craufurd (1776), The double tombs of Robert Craufurd (the factor of the East India Company) and his wife, located in the original southern section of the cemetery[1][7]
- Wonsi Quan (1796), who's gravestone was erected by his friend Wona Chow in 1796, both Chinese converts to Christianity.[7][1]
- There is a monument to two soldiers killed in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 (to the left of the entrance first grave on the path).
- Other military graves hold Henry Smith who died on 22 November 1857, the day of the Rebellion and that of soldiers Neil McMullen and James Moores who died on 23 November 1857. William Esden and Robert Brown were also victims of the mutiny and died on 24 November 1857.[3]
- Joakim G. Nicholas Pogose (1876), Founder of Pogoz School (first private school in Dhaka, established in 1848). He became director of Dhaka Bank established in 1846 and in 1874, Commissioner of Dhaka Municipality.[11][3]
- Elizabeth David (1878), wife of Marcar David, the "Merchant Prince of Bengal" who died on 18 November 1878. The grave has an exquisite statue of Madonna, reflecting the wealth her family.[11]
- Maj. Gen. Hamilton Vetch (1865), Maj. Gen. of the Bengal Army. He contributed significantly to the jungle war in Assam.[15]
- Jennette Rummary (1892), (also known as "Jennette Van Tassell").[16] She made the first manned balloon flight and subsequent parachute jump in Bangladesh's history on 16 March 1892 as a member of a travelling American aerial exhibition troop led by Park Van Tassel. The flying troupe was invited to perform in Dhaka by Nawab of Dhaka, advertising that the female pilot would ascend in a balloon and fly over the Ahsan Manzil adjacent to the Buriganga river, and would descend via a parachute[17] She started the balloon flight from the southern bank of the Buriganga but encountered difficulties and strong winds causing her to jump from the balloon. Her parachute became ensnared in a tree in what is today Ramna Park and she was severely injured while being rescued. She died in hospital three days later and was buried in the cemetery.[18] Her grave is unmarked.[17][12]
- Flt. Lt. Edward N. Owens (1961), pilot of a RAF Gloster Javelin jet aircraft that crashed over the Meghna River on 5 August 1961.[19] The gravestone was refurbished by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 2023 after falling into a state of disrepair.
Gallery
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Gravestone Joseph Padget: 1724
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Robert Craufurd tomb inscription: 1797
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Gravestone inscription for Wonsi Quan of 1796
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Jane Rennell: 1774
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Elizabeth David with the statue of Madonna on the tomb
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Joakim G. Nicholas Pogose: 1876
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Maj. Gen. Hamilton Vetch: 1865
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White stone fence demarcates the area of the mass grave from 1943
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Flt. Lt. Edward N. Owens grave in 2022
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Edward Owens tombstone in 2024.
References
- ^ a b c Waqar A. Khan (28 December 2020). "The Enduring Enigma of Columbo Sahib!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Llewellyn-Jones, Dr. Rosie (Autumn 2012). "The Narina Cemetery, Dhaka" (PDF). Chowkidar. 13 (2). London: British Association For Cemeteries In South Asia (BACSA): 34–35. ISSN 0141-6588. Retrieved 10 Apr 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Jannatul Naym Pieal (26 December 2018). "The Tomb of Narinda and the Mysteries of Colombo". Roarmedia (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d Herber, Reginald, Rev (1829). Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of India. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey. p. 152. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Waqar A. Khan (28 September 2016). "The Dhaka Masterpiece Paintings". Dawn. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Tim Steel (17 April 2015). "Dhaka, Before the Fall". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Bradley-Birt, Francis Bradley (1906). The Romance of an Eastern Capital. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 286–288. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Charles Greig, a Leading Historian of the Art of British India, Discusses 'Forgotten Masters' at the Wallace Collection". BACSA. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "Columbo Sahib's Tomb: Dhaka Christian Cemetery, Dhaka, Bangladesh". AtlasObscura. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/empty-promises-demolished-heritage-3117221
- ^ a b c d e M. H. Haider (26 November 2013). "Miss Me Not". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ a b From the arrival of the Dutch to the Second World War: Narinda Cemetery in History (In Bengali) (YouTube News Channel). Dhaka Christian Cemetery: Daily Star Live News. 11 August 2023.
- ^ Faisal Mahmud (7 August 2019). "Colonial-era Structures Crumble Due to Apathy". The Independent. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ M. H. Haider (11 December 2015). "A Tribute to Columbo Sahib". The Daily Star. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Dhaka Christian Cemetery". Discover Walks Blog. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ Susan Prior (9 May 2017). "The first flight ever taken in Brisbane was by a scantily clad daredevil balloonist". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ a b Rezwan (17 September 2021). "Forgotten history: American aeronaut Jeanette Van Tassel lies buried in Dhaka Christian Cemetery". Global Voices. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Dipan Nandy (12 August 2023). "A silent witness to Dhaka's history". Daily Star. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Master Navigator Tony Melton". The Telegraph (Obituary). 30 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2022.