This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7710435.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Grave fears for India burial site Grave fears for India burial site
(about 14 hours later)
A team of Scottish heritage experts will fly out to India this weekend to help save a historic graveyard.A team of Scottish heritage experts will fly out to India this weekend to help save a historic graveyard.
The Scottish Cemetery of Kolkata, the last resting place of up to 1,600 people, has become overgrown and many of the graves have been damaged.The Scottish Cemetery of Kolkata, the last resting place of up to 1,600 people, has become overgrown and many of the graves have been damaged.
Conservationists hope to restore the site, which lies in a densely-populated part of Calcutta.Conservationists hope to restore the site, which lies in a densely-populated part of Calcutta.
Economist James Wilson - who introduced income tax and paper currency to India - is said to be buried there.Economist James Wilson - who introduced income tax and paper currency to India - is said to be buried there.
Traditional skills
There are also hundreds of soldiers, jute traders, industrialists and missionaries at the burial site.There are also hundreds of soldiers, jute traders, industrialists and missionaries at the burial site.
"This is a little piece of Scotland in India, a green space in a densely populated part of Calcutta," said James Simpson of the Edinburgh-based conservation architects Simpson and Brown, who has visited the site several times."This is a little piece of Scotland in India, a green space in a densely populated part of Calcutta," said James Simpson of the Edinburgh-based conservation architects Simpson and Brown, who has visited the site several times.
"Even the gravestones are made of Scottish stone - granite and marble, some of it brought all the way from home."Even the gravestones are made of Scottish stone - granite and marble, some of it brought all the way from home.
"All these people made Calcutta such a Scottish city back in the 19th Century.""All these people made Calcutta such a Scottish city back in the 19th Century."
But the graveyard - once the responsibility of the country's first Church of Scotland, St Andrew's Church in Calcutta's Dalhousie Square, has become overgrown.But the graveyard - once the responsibility of the country's first Church of Scotland, St Andrew's Church in Calcutta's Dalhousie Square, has become overgrown.
The burial site graveyard is in the heart of CalcuttaMany of the stones have been damaged, their details barely legible.The burial site graveyard is in the heart of CalcuttaMany of the stones have been damaged, their details barely legible.
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, along with the Kolkata Scottish Heritage Trust, wants to restore the site, not just for historical posterity but because the graveyard will provide much needed green space in a densely-populated area.The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, along with the Kolkata Scottish Heritage Trust, wants to restore the site, not just for historical posterity but because the graveyard will provide much needed green space in a densely-populated area.
At their invite, Mr Simpson will return to Kolkata at the weekend with surveyors from the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and a cemetery expert from Highland Council.At their invite, Mr Simpson will return to Kolkata at the weekend with surveyors from the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and a cemetery expert from Highland Council.
Their task will be to carry out a first survey of the site and develop a plan for restoration.Their task will be to carry out a first survey of the site and develop a plan for restoration.
The Scottish expertise will be vital - most of the names on the graves are Scottish, even the gravestones are largely made of Aberdeen granite - but they also hope to establish local training in traditional skills.The Scottish expertise will be vital - most of the names on the graves are Scottish, even the gravestones are largely made of Aberdeen granite - but they also hope to establish local training in traditional skills.
"The commission has many years of experience and expertise surveying and recording threatened buildings in Scotland - it is just one aspect of our role recording the nation's built environment," said Clare Sorensen, architectural historian at RCAHMS."The commission has many years of experience and expertise surveying and recording threatened buildings in Scotland - it is just one aspect of our role recording the nation's built environment," said Clare Sorensen, architectural historian at RCAHMS.
Most of the names on the graves at Kolkata are Scottish"The Kolkata Cemetery is an important monument to the joint heritage of both Scotland and India, and we are delighted to be asked to survey and record this treasured place overseas."Most of the names on the graves at Kolkata are Scottish"The Kolkata Cemetery is an important monument to the joint heritage of both Scotland and India, and we are delighted to be asked to survey and record this treasured place overseas."
It is a point echoed by Linda Fabiani, minister for Europe, external affairs and culture.It is a point echoed by Linda Fabiani, minister for Europe, external affairs and culture.
She said: "The Scottish Government's International Framework highlights the importance that we place on strengthening the existing links between Scotland and India. The work of the Kolkata Scottish Heritage Trust demonstrates how we can seek to build on historical links between our countries, and the opportunities for mutual benefit that this relationship can bring.She said: "The Scottish Government's International Framework highlights the importance that we place on strengthening the existing links between Scotland and India. The work of the Kolkata Scottish Heritage Trust demonstrates how we can seek to build on historical links between our countries, and the opportunities for mutual benefit that this relationship can bring.
"I am pleased that the work the team is undertaking seeks to preserve the historic importance of this site for both Scotland and Kolkata, as well as working to improve the local landscape for the benefit of the local community.""I am pleased that the work the team is undertaking seeks to preserve the historic importance of this site for both Scotland and Kolkata, as well as working to improve the local landscape for the benefit of the local community."
The team leave for India on 8 November and photography and survey information from the visit will be made available to the public online at www.rcahms.gov.uk.The team leave for India on 8 November and photography and survey information from the visit will be made available to the public online at www.rcahms.gov.uk.