The cemetery near the historical Potagada Fort in Ganjam is lying in a dilapidated condition. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, May 22: The cemetery near historical Potagada fort in Ganjam district, which was built by the British during the 18th century, is lying in dilapidated condition and is in the process of being ruined.

The cemetery is one of the earliest ones built by British administrators and comprises of tombstones with spire like monuments in masonry, Prahalad Panda, a retired professor of Berhampur University, said.

“The cemetery contains the graveyard of mainly the British captains and majors who died in three resistant movements by the rulers of Ghumsur (at present Bhanjanagar), Mahuri (Berhampur) and Paralakhemundi from 1753 to 1866 against British rule” said Panda.

The construction of the unique star shaped Potagada fort commenced in 1768 by Cotsword. The adjoining cemetery contains interesting monuments in form of tombstones, he said. “The French, under the leadership of General De Bussy, were the first among the Europeans to establish factory at Ganjam in 1757 AD. The British East India Company took possession of Ganjam nine years later in 1766 AD under the leadership of Edward Cotsford. The British army fought war against Krushna Bhanja in Ghumsur, Narayan Narendra in Mahuri and Narayan Gajapati in Paralakhemundi. Ghumsur resistant movement, which started from 1753 and lasted 113 years up to 1866, witnessed fighting with the British by five Bhanja Kings in seven stages. Some of the British captains and majors who were killed in the war at Ghumsur, Mahuri and Paralakhemundi were buried at the cemetery at Potagada in Ganjam district,” the professor said.

The plaque on each graveyard reminds us of those British people who had laid down their lives and the cemetery must be preserved as a historical monument, he said.

Local residents claim that the authorities have closed their eyes to the cemetery. Though there is a boundary wall around the cemetery, there is no gate and nobody to take care of the British heritage. They suggested establishment of a tourist office in Ganjam to tap the tourism potentials of Potagada fort as well as the British cemetery there.

Ganjam district tourist officer, Surendra Lima, on the other hand, informed that Potagada fort and cemetery had been selected for conservation, development and eco-tourism promotion through community participation and livelihood programmes. These programmes will be effectively implemented by Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Orissa Tourism Development Corporation and the state culture department.

Chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, tourism and culture secretary A.K. Tripathy and project director of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Ajit Kumar Patnaik, had visited the spot on April 2 last, he said. Potagada is a protected monument of Orissa State Archaeology department, said the tourist officer.

However Sarat Chandra Nayak Bishop of the Berhampur Diocese, Sarat Chandra Nayak said: “The cemetery belongs to us and we are updating the revenue records. We will definitely initiate steps to preserve the cemetery and protect the graveyards from the decaying process.”