S Temjen
Lerie, Kohima
Every city has old Christian cemeteries dating back centuries. Kolkata for one has preserved and maintains an old British cemetery right in the center of the most highly sought after real estate, Park Street area. Why? Because the non Christian citizens of Kolkata believe that this is important and civilisation.
The European Civil Cemetery in Kohima city is a notified burial ground given to the founding fathers of the town. The bones of many early British frontier administrators, ICS officers, missionaries, travellers, soldiers and past prominent citizens rest here. To many this nearly century old cemetery may appear abandoned because no burials have taken place in recent years as it is filled up completely. However, this is a place that is dear to the hearts of many kin here and many more in distant lands. To just bulldoze them away because of the exigency of space would be an act completely contrary to our beliefs and culture.
Would this action make us feel truly justified thereafter? Would it not be more kind to let them rest in peace just as we the living would also want to, one day?
