Neglected, Shimla’s British-era Sanjauli cemetery turns into anti-socials’ haven

“The cemetery is open from all sides. It is almost a semi-forest area full of cedars. A normal person wouldn’t dare come here after sunset, but youngsters visit at odd hours. I’ve almost given up trying to stop them,” says Pushpa Kaushal, 50, the only watchwoman employed by the Shimla Cemetery Association (SCA). Kaushal lives in an accommodation adjacent to the cemetery.

Shimla Cemetery Association asserted that it has repaired many tombstones and graves, including the two war graves, but demanded a proper fencing to thwart anti-social elements. (Photo: Saurabh Parashar)

Kaushal took over the security job of her husband Pyare Lal after his death in 2004. “Since then I’ve been taking care of the cemetery. Recently, the police installed two or three CCTV cameras at the entrance, but that hasn’t stopped people from entering the cemetery compound unnecessarily,” she says.

Shimla Cemetery Association, led by president Father Antoniy Dixon of St Michael’s Cathedral Church and secretary Raj Kumar, has raised the issue with senior administrative officials, but to no avail, said local residents.

But area municipal councillor Narinder Thakur said as the cemetery is run by a private association, it is their responsibility to prioritize its maintenance.

Shimla Cemetery Association asserted that it has repaired many tombstones and graves, including the two war graves, but demanded a proper fencing to thwart anti-social elements.

Kaushal took over the security job of her husband Pyare Lal after his death in 2004. “Since then I’ve been taking care of the cemetery. Recently, the police installed two or three CCTV cameras at the entrance, but that hasn’t stopped people from entering the cemetery compound unnecessarily,” she says.

Shimla Cemetery Association, led by president Father Antoniy Dixon of St Michael’s Cathedral Church and secretary Raj Kumar, has raised the issue with senior administrative officials, but to no avail, said local residents.

But area municipal councillor Narinder Thakur said as the cemetery is run by a private association, it is their responsibility to prioritize its maintenance.

Shimla Cemetery Association asserted that it has repaired many tombstones and graves, including the two war graves, but demanded a proper fencing to thwart anti-social elements.

Lone watchwoman Pushpa Kaushal in the cemetery. (Photo: Saurabh Parashar)

“Without a proper boundary wall, the area remains vulnerable to anti-social elements. We’re working on constructing a tall boundary wall with proper fencing, but the estimated cost is around ₹35-40 lakh. Unfortunately, we struggle with funds. The Superintendent of Police of Shimla assured us that strict action will be taken against miscreants,” says secretary Raj Kumar.

Inspector Vilochan Negi, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Dhalli police station, under whose jurisdiction the cemetery falls, mentions that there has not been any indication of drug use inside the cemetery compound although teenaged boys and girls frequent the area.

“In the absence of a large playground nearby, children also play games there. We conduct regular patrols, and I’ve personally visited the site several times. On a few occasions, we found youths sitting on graves and we have told them to stop coming to the place,” Negi said.

The cemetery holds over 600 graves, including two war graves of soldiers from World War I. (Photo: Saurabh Parashar)

Minister Anirudh Singh told The Indian Express, that his ancestors gave the land to the British on a perpetual lease in 1921. “Along with this cemetery, other properties from the Koti estate were also leased out. The lease is well-documented in history, but unfortunately, we lost the original records in a fire years ago. Members of the Christian community approached us for the documents, but by then, the records were gone,” Singh says.

A perpetual lease allows the lessee to use the property indefinitely, with no fixed expiration date, unless terminated by either party.

Occasionally, descendants of British families visit the graves of their ancestors at the Sanjauli Cemetery. Notably, this area was the epicenter of violent protests on September 11, following demands to demolish an allegedly illegal mosque in Sanjauli, a sub-town of Shimla.