Maniktala Christian Cemetery, Kolkata

Family Graves of Toru and Aru Dutt

Overgrown with tall grasses & bushes, infested with dogs and a few unimpressive scattered graves is the best way of describing the Maniktala Christian Cemetery.

Maniktala Christian Cemetery, Maniktala, Kolkata (Calcutta)

The Cemetery itself is difficult to spot and even people living in the neighborhood are totally unaware of its existence.

Located behind the Leprosy Mission Hospital it is approached through a small gate next to the hospital.

Gate of Maniktala Christian Cemetery

The gate bares the the inscription “Maniktalla Christian Cemetery.” The board is covered by a branch of a tree making it almost invisible.

There is also a small metal board saying “Trespassers will be prosecuted” and “entry prohibited” in Bengali. The notice can be ignored as there is no restriction in entry nor in photography.

The Maniktala Christian Cemetery, is still active, but it is in an utter state of neglect. A family stays in the cemetery and the uses the cemetery for drying clothes.

Maniktala Christian Cemetery

The cemetery is surrounded by a low wall making it accessible to dogs and it also doubles up as a playground for local kids.

There are scattered graves all over and during the monsoon time the grass reaches well over the waist level.

Most of the graves belong to Bengali Christians and Banerjee and Dutt are common sir names. On closer inspection one can definitely spot a few Anglican names too.

On the north – eastern corner of the Maniktala Christian Cemetery lies the family grave of the Rambagan Dutt Family.

Maniktala Christian Cemetery, graves of Toru Dutt’s family

A small enclosure, which looks more like a rectangular well, houses the grave of Toru Dutt and her family. Toru Dutt, the first Indian women to write proses and poetry in both English and French, is buried along with his siblings Aru and Abju.

The enclosure also houses the grave of their parents, father Govin Chunder and mother Khetramoni.

The enclosure have been the result of a restoration effort by local organization Pather Panchali.

The restored graves were inaugurated by the then sports minister Subhas Chakraborty in 2007. A black granite plaque on the inner walls of the enclosure proudly tells the tale of restoration.

Epitaphs Toru, Aru and Abju Dutt along with the restoration plaque, Maniktala Christian Cemetery.

Sadly the unplanned restoration has robbed the graves of its beauty and turning them into a single piece of concrete with only the marble tablets visible.

Rambagan Dutt Family Tree

Toru belonged to the Rambagan Dutt family and was the cousin of writer and ICS Romesh Dutt.

In 1854 Toru’s cousin Omesh embraced Christianity, along with his three uncles, including Toru’s father Govin. They were largely influenced by David Hare, William Carey and Alexander Duff.

Toru wrote Le Journal de Mademoiselle d’Arvers, Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields and Ancient Ballads and Legends in India.

In 1869 Aru and Toru travelled to Europe and visited France, Italy and England. Due to ill health they were forced to return. They never recovered from their illness. Aru died 23 July 1874 (aged 20) and Toru on 30 August 1877 (aged 21).

Reference:

• Death no Peace in Heaven by Soumitra Das, The Telegraph, 24 Aug, 2007.
• Blog post by friend and fellow blogger Sumit Surai and Indrajit Das.