Mary Girard's Blog
  • Preserving our Heritage Blog
  • Writer's Journey Blog
  • BLOG: HERITAGE TRIP 2016
  • INDIA 2013

My Trip to India Oct 10-Nov 7 2013

Those who know me well know how long it has been that I've dreamed of returning to India.  I grew up there arriving in 1959 and leaving in 1976 (with about 5 years int the States).  Most of the time I spent going toWoodstock  School in the foot hill of the Hymalyas in a town called Mussoorie.  

While I was somewhat curious to head "home" to see my old stomping grounds, my main purpose was to begin a journey of understanding my ancestral connections to India and to discover what India has become.  

Yes, I found there are a lot of changes in India, but in truth the most remarkable thing was how "familiar" it was to me.

Button Text

Cemetary In Sesrch Of My Great Great Grandfather's Grave

10/29/2013

2 Comments

 
My great great grandfather, Ferdinand Hahn died May 3 1910 and is buried in Camels Back Cemetery.
Picture
his grave in 1910
Picture
i was unable to find the grave but discovered a beautiful view from where the grave site might be
From the journal of his widow Doris:
"The funeral was set for 5 pm. Mr. Gass had told me earlier that only the English clergy was allowed to officiate in the cemetery; no out-of-towner. But Mr. Stoll gave a little meditation in English at the casket, on the porch where the mission Brothers and Sisters Stoll, Gass and Wiens had joined us mourners. Then began the heavy, heavy walk to the cemetery – through the city, past walkers, market people, dandies, etc. – without singing, without bells ringing – only with a heart filled with pain, on the same path which the dear Papa had so often loved to walk. Oh, I could hardly walk, and it was good that someone offered me a dandy which brought me the rest of the way. At the entrance of the cemetery, Chaplain Law, a slender man, stepped in front of the casket and guided the small procession down several slopes, reading Psalms, down to the lowest terrace of the picturesquely arranged cemetery of Mussourie. There, the four gentlemen let the casket down into the tomb, and there, our dear, dear father is now resting until the great resurrection day; resting from all his struggles, worries and works of this poor life, and sees the One in whom he has believed here and whom he has loved above all. But we mourn after him and will never, never forget him."
Picture
Picture
Picture
Prem Singh, the watchman assures me he will keep looking. my allergies flared up so i had to call it quits
Picture
most graves are covered in moss or have lost all markings. i worked with the watchman to uncover about 12 graves to no avail.
Picture
possible path they took to the cemetary
Picture
lovely view in the way to cemetary
Picture
where they stayed at Himalaya Hotel
Picture
Picture
then
Picture
now
Picture
Picture
Picture
plot 7: i was told that was the number before i saw this map so Prem Singh promised to keep looking
2 Comments
Kamala
3/26/2015 03:05:31 am

These reflections are so nice Mary. Really historical, and a sense of the timelessness of being there is brought back.
Went up for 1.5 day in 2013, early July. The Tata Insitute behind the Landour Language school is wholeheartedly dumping their trash down the khud.
The Pollution in general, was much higher, although my son talked about rarefied airs, I felt it had really declined. Outside of the woods saved and protected by the school and other missionary places, everything is pretty packed, more small shops, cafe style, on the roads around the Sisters, however, the back is the same by the cemetery...again, thanks to private ownership...
Do you plan to go back again?

Reply
Mary
3/26/2015 04:44:34 am

Yes. I hope to go again next Oct. If that doesn't happen then in March 2016. I love to acquaint myself with the town. Landaur is still lovely and that is wonderful but Mussoorie still has so much more to explore. I am really interested in the economy of trash...see my story of the ragpickers.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Travel backwards:
    by scrolling down

    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Or pick a Post

    All
    Clement Town Oct 31
    Dehra Dun Oct 14
    Diwali
    Down The Mountain Oct 31
    Duchaan Tour 1
    Duchaan Tour 2
    Duchaan Tour 3
    Duchaan Tour 4
    FRIENDS IN DELHI
    Lanavola Nov 4
    Landaur 2
    Landaur 3
    Mlumbai Oct 10
    Mumbai Nov 3-6
    Musoorie Oct 15
    Mussoorie Halfway
    Mussoorie Here
    Mussoorie Ladies
    Mussoorie Map
    Mussoorie Monkeys
    Mussoorie Oct 17
    Mussoorie Oct 19
    Mussoorie Oct 22
    Mussoorie Oct 24
    Mussoorie Oct 26
    Mussoorie Oct 27
    Mussoorie Oct 28
    Mussoorie Oct 31
    Mussoorie Woodstock
    OCTOBER DAY!
    Paris
    Rag Pickers
    Research Ancestors: Cemetary
    Research Ancestors: Journal
    Research Ancestory: Teacher Training
    Shatabdi Express Oct 31
    Thanks To Domas Inn
    Trees And Flowers

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly