Christian cemetery, Dhaka

Last updated
Dhaka Christian cemetery
Entrance Christian Graveyard in Narinda Old Dhaka.JPG
Entrance to the cemetery on Narinda Road, Wari, Dhaka
Religion
Affiliation Christian
Location
Location Dhaka, Bangladesh
Geographic coordinates 23°42′56″N90°25′11″E / 23.715566°N 90.419783°E / 23.715566; 90.419783
Architecture
Date establishedest. 1720 [1]
Christian cemetery, Dhaka
Invisible Square.svg
Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
300m
330yds
Red pog.svg
Christian Cemetery
Dhaka (Narinda) Christian cemetery in old town Dhaka

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.

Contents

Origins

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. [2] 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 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." [2]

In 1632, ethnic conflict peaked between the Portuguese and other nationalities and most Portuguese settlers, traders and priests were ousted on the orders of Emperor Shah Jahan and they fled to 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. [2] 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. [2]

Prominent graves and their architectural significance

The cemetery has several distinct architectural forms related to mausoleums, grave embellishments and tombstones:

The Columbo Sahib mausoleum

Columbo Sahib mausoleum condition compared between 1950 and 2022 Columbo Sahib's Mausoleum 1950 and 2022.jpg
Columbo Sahib mausoleum condition compared between 1950 and 2022

The largest structure in the cemetery is a mausoleum containing three graves, all without any inscription. [3] A painting of the mausoleum was completed by the German artist Johann Zoffany in 1786, titled "Nagaphon Ghat" [4] (translated from Bengali it means the Nagaphon mooring or dock), depicting the structure on the Dolai Khal or creek, that has since been filled back and no longer reaches as far as the cemetery. [5]

Painting titled Nagaphon Ghat: The Columbo Sahib mausoleum located in the Christian Cemetery as painted by German artist Johann Zoffany in 1786 Nagaphon Ghat.jpg
Painting titled Nagaphon Ghat: The Columbo Sahib mausoleum located in the Christian Cemetery as painted by German artist Johann Zoffany in 1786

The structure was first referred to as the Columbo Sahib mausoleum by Reginald Heber, the Bishop of Calcutta [3] in an 1824 account of his visit to Dacca. Heber had consecrated the Narinda cemetery in 1824 and recorded the presence of the large imposing tomb as "....Some of the tombs are very handsome; one more particularly, resembling the buildings raised over the graves of Mussulman saints, has a high octagon gothic tower, with a cupola in the same style, and eight windows with elaborate tracer.. [3] Similarly, Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt records the Columbo Sahib structure as: A high octagonal Gothic tower with eight windows, the whole surmounted by a cupola in the same style, it stands nameless, dominating the whole cemetery and jealously keeping watch over the three graves that lie within. ...Silent and impressive, the towering mausoleum keeps well the secret that it holds.. [6] A 1950 photograph shows that the Mausoleum has declined more disastrously in the last 50 years as compared to the previous 160 years when it was painted by Johann Zoffany in 1786 as the British Royal Court artist. [5]

[7] [8]

Moorish gateway and Mughal tombs

The Moorish arch demarcating the original entrance to the cemetery Christian cemetery wari dhaka entrance gate.jpg
The Moorish arch demarcating the original entrance to the cemetery

The Moorish-type gateway was built during the Mughal period using thin 'jafri bricks' (these are clearly visible where the plaster has fallen off in parts). [9] The gate would previously have led into a specific section of the graveyard, but today its location and purpose are more obscure. [10] Its position also reveals that no formal layout was maintained in the expansion of the cemetery. [2]

Graves adorned with the obelisk and urn, resemble the contemporary best-known English cemeteries in Calcutta; the Baroque character of the older and provincial cemeteries. The Indian version of the pyramid stands on a podium where the inscriptions are laid, has a less broad base, which is smoothly uplifted to an acute angled apex. [2]

Mass grave from 1943 Bengal famine

The cemetery also contains a mass-grave, demarcated by a low stone fence surrounding a square area, containing the remains of Christians who succumbed to the Bengal famine of 1943. There is no plaque or reference to those interned in this grave. [11]


Present condition and use

The original road layout of the cemetery has faded away with time, but it can be understood that a couple of straight roads intersected to make a path system within the network with the tombs jumbled into a group to form one or two clusters, while making it hardly visible to visitors.[ citation needed ].

The cemetery expanded its borders in the early 20th century, covering 3 acres (1.2 hectares). [12]

The Dhaka Department of Archaeology has declared the early-18th-century mausoleum of Columbo Sahib and the 1724 tomb of Reverend Joseph Paget as two of the city's 22 heritage sites. [10] This has however not stopped the decay and crumbling of the structures. [13] The cemetery is still in use and burials take place on a regular basis. The cemetery is maintained and managed by the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka on behalf of numerous Christian denominations.[ citation needed ]

Portions of the cemetery that are still in use, with Mughal tombs in the background right. Dhaka Christian Cemetery 202211-8.jpg
Portions of the cemetery that are still in use, with Mughal tombs in the background right.

Notable interments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomb</span> Repository for the remains of the dead

A tomb or sepulcher is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be called immurement, although this word mainly means entombing people alive, and is a method of final disposition, as an alternative to cremation or burial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhaka Collegiate School</span> Government, boys high school in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka Collegiate School is a secondary school in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is one of the oldest schools in Bangladesh. The students of collegiate school are called Collegiatian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Dhaka</span> History of the capital city of Bangladesh

Dhaka (Dacca) is a modern megacity with origins dating to circa the 7th century CE. The history of Dhaka begins with the existence of urbanised settlements that were ruled by the Hindu Gauda Kingdom, Buddhist and Shaivite Pala Empire before passing to the control of the Hindu Sena dynasty in the 10th century CE. After the Sena dynasty, the city was ruled by the Hindu Deva Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahbag</span> Major neighbourhood and thana in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Shahbagh is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or thana in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is also a major public transport hub. It is a junction between two contrasting sections of the city—Old Dhaka and New Dhaka—which lie, respectively, to its south and north. Developed in the 17th century during Mughal rule in Bengal, when Old Dhaka was the provincial capital and a centre of the flourishing muslin industry, it came to neglect and decay in early 19th century. In the mid-19th century, the Shahbagh area was developed as New Dhaka became a provincial centre of the British Raj, ending a century of decline brought on by the passing of Mughal rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bara Katra</span> Historical and architectural monument in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bara Katra is one of the oldest historical and architectural monuments in Dhaka. The word Katra may have originated from Arabic word Katara which means colonnaded building. 'Katra/ katara' in Arabic and Persian means 'Caravan (Karwan) Sarai' or simply a 'Sarai'. It is a palatial building dating to the reign of the Mughal dynasty in the Bengal region. It is situated to the south of Chowk Bazaar close to the north bank of the river Buriganga. It was partially demolished in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilbirnie Auld Kirk</span> Church

Kilbirnie Auld Kirk is a Church of Scotland congregation on Dalry Road, Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Although the building dates back to the 15th century, the present congregation was formed in 1978 by the amalgamation of the Glengarnock Parish Church and the Barony Church. The building is now closed as a place of worship, and the congregation meet at the united Kilbirnie New Parish Church in Glasgow Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Bangladesh</span>

Tourism in Bangladesh includes tourism to World Heritage Sites, historical monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forests, tribal people, and wildlife of various species. Activities for tourists include angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, beachgoing and sea bathing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengal Armenians</span> Ethnic group

The Bengal Armenians were ethnic Armenians who lived in what is now called Bangladesh. Their numbers have gradually diminished and there are now no Armenians in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Park Street Cemetery</span> Cemetery of Kolkata

South Park Street Cemetery, formerly known as the 'Great Christian Burial Ground', was one of the earliest non-church cemeteries in the world. The cemetery houses numerous graves and monuments belonging to British soldiers, administrators, and their families. It is also the final resting place of several prominent personalities, including Henry Louis Vivian Derozio and Sir William Jones. It is located on Mother Teresa Sarani, Central Kolkata, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth</span> Church in Kolkata, India

The Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth is an 18th-century Armenian Apostolic church at Kolkata (Calcutta), India, serving as the centre of the Armenian Community of Calcutta and the seat of the Armenian Vicariate of India and the Far East. It is affiliated with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was first built in the year 1688 during the Moghal era and rebuilt in 1724 on the old cemetery of the Armenian community, through the efforts of Agha Nazar after the original wooden structure perished in a fire in 1707.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalbagh Fort</span> Historical site in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Lalbagh Fort is a fort in the old city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its name is derived from its neighborhood Lalbagh, which means Red Garden. The term Lalbagh refers to reddish and pinkish architecture from the Mughal period. The original fort was called Fort Aurangabad. Its construction was started by Prince Muhammad Azam Shah, who was the son of Emperor Aurangzeb and a future Mughal emperor himself. After the prince was recalled by his father, the fort's construction was overseen by Shaista Khan. The death of Shaista Khan's daughter Pari Bibi resulted in a halt to the construction process, apparently due to Shaista Khan's superstition that the fort brought bad omen. Pari Bibi was buried inside the fort.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khushbagh</span> Cemetery in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India

Khushbagh is the garden-cemetery of the Nawabs of Bengal, situated on the west bank of the Hooghly river, about a mile from its east bank, in the Murshidabad-Jiaganj CD block in Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India. Khushbagh hosts the graves of the Nawabs of Bengal of the Afshar dynasty and their family members; while Jafarganj Cemetery hosts the graves of the later Nawabs and their families, starting from Mir Jafar, who belonged to the Najafi dynasty. Khushbagh is the resting place of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, his wife Lutf-un-nisa, Nawab Alivardi Khan, and his mother, amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Pogose</span>

Joachim Gregory Nicholas Pogose was an Armenian merchant and a zamindar. He belonged to the Armenian community of Dhaka.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Bengal as well as in Dhaka. The Portuguese who came to Dhaka were mostly missionaries and merchants came from their main base in Hugli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Jalal Dargah</span> Burial place of the 14th-century Muslim saint Shah Jalal in Sylhet, Bangladesh

The Shah Jalal Dargah is the shrine and burial place of the 14th century Muslim saint Shah Jalal, located in Sylhet, Bangladesh. The site, known as a dargah, was originally constructed c. 1500, though many additions and alterations were made to its structures over the following centuries. It became a religious centre in the region, respected across multiple ruling administrations and greatly venerated among Bengalis, with local folklore and legends developing around it. The extensive surrounding compound serves several functions and includes four mosques, a religious school and a public cemetery among others. The Dargah is presently the largest and most visited religious site in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikolai Cemetery (Görlitz)</span> Cemetery in Görlitz, Germany

The Nikolai Cemetery, most likely established in the 12th century and first mentioned in 1310, is the oldest cemetery in Görlitz, Germany. After the opening of the nearby municipal cemetery in 1847, the cemetery ceased to be active and subsequent burials were only carried out in exceptional circumstances. Despite not having regular burial services any longer, the 850 gravestones and 17 mausoleums inside the cemetery all remain in good condition, some of which date back to the 17th century.

The Dacca Bank was a bank founded in 1846 in Dhaka, in the then British India. The bank was the thirty second oldest bank in India. It is the very first private bank founded in the present day country of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</span> Resting place of the first president of Bangladesh

The Mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder and the first president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is located in Tungipara of Gopalganj district, the birthplace of Mujib, and was designed by architects Ehsan Khan, Ishtiaque Jahir and Iqbal Habib.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam</span> Resting place of the national poet of Bangladesh

Mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam is a mausoleum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It marks the grave of the 20th century writer, poet and musician Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s national poet. He died 29 August 1976.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Waqar A. Khan (28 December 2020). "The Enduring Enigma of Columbo Sahib!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jannatul Naym Pieal (26 December 2018). "The Tomb of Narinda and the Mysteries of Colombo". Roarmedia (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 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)
  4. Waqar A. Khan (28 September 2016). "The Dhaka Masterpiece Paintings". Dawn. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Tim Steel (17 April 2015). "Dhaka, Before the Fall". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bradley-Birt, Francis Bradley (1906). The Romance of an Eastern Capital. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 286–288. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. "Charles Greig, a Leading Historian of the Art of British India, Discusses 'Forgotten Masters' at the Wallace Collection". BACSA. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. "Columbo Sahib's Tomb: Dhaka Christian Cemetery, Dhaka, Bangladesh". AtlasObscura. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/empty-promises-demolished-heritage-3117221 [ bare URL ]
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 M. H. Haider (26 November 2013). "Miss Me Not". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Faisal Mahmud (7 August 2019). "Colonial-era Structures Crumble Due to Apathy". The Independent. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  14. M. H. Haider (11 December 2015). "A Tribute to Columbo Sahib". The Daily Star. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. "Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Dhaka Christian Cemetery". Discover Walks Blog. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  16. 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.
  17. 1 2 Rezwan (17 September 2021). "Forgotten history: American aeronaut Jeanette Van Tassel lies buried in Dhaka Christian Cemetery". Global Voices. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  18. Dipan Nandy (12 August 2023). "A silent witness to Dhaka's history". Daily Star. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  19. "Master Navigator Tony Melton". The Telegraph (Obituary). 30 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2022.