Jhansi (Lynchgate) Cantonment Cemetery
01 January 2012
88 year old Mrs. M.R. Cantem, better known as Peggy or Aunty
Peggy, is one of the most popular figures in Jhansi today. She was
all set to migrate to the UK but when her husband passed away in
1986, she changed her mind and stayed to work with the local
community.
In 2004, Peggy decided to restore the Jhansi Lynchgate Cemetery,
which along with 62 Commission cantonment graves, has graves dating
back to the era of the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. The Cemetery had
long been abandoned, as access was almost impossible, and was
filled with snakes and other pests and covered with shrubs and
weeds. Peggy's involvement has help restore the cemetery to
its original condition.
The Commission is currently reinstating the original graves
in 131 burial sites across India. Jhansi Lynchgate Cemetery
is one of these cemeteries and is now almost completely
restored; with the other sites in different stages of
completion.
The photograph above shows Peggy and Commission staff during a
visit earlier this month.