The Dutch cemetery on the campus of Barabati Girls’ High School in Balasore. Telegraph pictures

Balasore, Feb. 14: This district was one of the favourite destinations of European countries for maritime activities in the 15th and 16th century. But all the remains of this historical interaction between the two regions of the world are wallowing in neglect today.

Various trading companies of the western world had arrived here in 1514 owing to its strategic location along the coast and each European community had their own settlements in this district.

The legacies of the European trading companies can still be found in the villages of Barabati, Olondaj Sahi, Dinamar Dinga and Purna Baleswar.

Historians say the Portuguese were first to arrive here followed by the Dutch, the Danish and the British. The French were the last European community to reach Balasore. The Dutch people were then called as Olondaj and Danish as Dinamar who raised settlements Olondaj Sahi and Dinamar Dinga respectively.

Among the remains of this fascinating past are two triangular spirals situated in the Barabati Girls’ High School, which was once district headquarters hospital.

The two spirals are located side-by-side, one being about 45ft and the other 30ft. The engraved words on these structures have been defaced now and are hardly legible.

One of the spirals has a mark mentioning it was built on November 23, 1696, bearing script “Michelle Jansburgraf Vansen Hwiseno”. The other one by the side of it is of Enabela, a Dutch lady. Sadly, weeds and roots have grown on and around these ancient memorials.

Even the people of Barabati village do not seem to have much idea or awareness about the ageless tombstones.

“Since my school days, I have been seeing both the tombstones in Barabati Girls’ High School. Later on, I came to know that they belong to the Dutch and are centuries old. Yet they are in a neglected state. No efforts have ever been made to revive them,” said Mitra Mahapatra, a history researcher and principal of KKS Women’s College here.

“Despite its rich historical background and having potential to woo European tourists, these sites are lying in neglect. Nothing has been done to maintain the sanctity and holiness of these tombstones,” said Biswanath Rana, a local resident.

Balasore collector Akhil Bihari Ota said: “We are working with the help of Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) Balasore chapter to restore all the maritime monuments here.”

The president of the Balasore chapter of Intach, Himansu Das, said they would soon begin their endeavour to restore the heritage sites of the district.

“We have already identified these monuments of Barabati and sent them along with a list of many others to our Delhi centre for financial and technical assistance,” said Das.