In the annals of history of India's long -drawn freedom struggle. the province of Bengal played a keen and vital role to drive out the foreign rule from there. Ever since the arrival of the British company in the 17th century and their illegal take of over of vast Bengal province under Robert Clive, the natives of this region had perpetually lost their freedom, peaceful life and livelihood under the shadow of British rule.
The English company, which was on a land expansion mode in other parts of India was running the government as a proxy for the British Crown. In return the Crown gave the British company the rights to have an army on its own and to protect and expand their operations. Under the British Raj after 1860 the same trend continued. Among the Indians, Bengalis were the first ones who suffered a lot from the atrocities and exploitation of British Imperialism. Unable to bear the authoritarian and oppressive colonial rule, Bengal became a hot bed of freedom fighters, and nationalists in the 1930s who made a clarion call for freedom. As for young Bengalis, not following the path chosen by Gandhiji, they took to violence as a means to frighten the British to get the Europeans out of India.
Midnapore, the second largest city in Paschim Medinipur district after Kharagpur in West Bengal deeply influenced by the National Thinking had many branches of Political Organizations in the second half of 19th century. The anti imperialistic struggle encouraged social alliances among the contending classes. In the midst of social awakening, some secret clandestine societies were also founded in Midnapore District as well as in Calcutta with the primary purpose to intimidate the British administration. Later this district became a breeding ground for the revolutionaries to confront the mighty British rule.
The natives were keen to see Bengal back to their lost glory. Till August 1947 the district of Midnapore never again welcomed a British District Magistrates who never gave native Indians a fair judgement. Particularly in the court of law, Indian freedom fighters were treated in a shabby manner with contempt by the presiding. The turbulent period began in 1942 when Gandhiji and others made an impassioned call for Quit India and the establishment of a Swadeshi government
St. John's Church, one of the earliest churches during the early British colonial period was built in the then Sekpura area of Midnapore town to serve the European community consisting of mostly EIC officials. It was built in 1851 at Sekpura in Midnapore Though discouraged, the Missionaries were keen to spread the Gospel of Love among the natives.
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| Historical St. John's church, Midnapore city, West Bengal |
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| St. John's graveyard. tombs of Bernard Burge, R. Dougla and J. Peddie telegraphindia.com |
This historical church with many notable graves inside the church cemetery is under the Diocese of Durgapur, Church of North India. CNI) after India's freedom. Not properly maintained, the church and the grave yard are in a poor state due to official negligence. In the compound of St. John’s Church lie three notable Christian graves of former British officials. All three gravestones, adorned with beautiful marble and stone figures, are in utter ruin with overgrowth of wild grass and plants and shrubs. The tombs are barely visible after evening it is not advisable to visit this site as the paths are not clean. The tombs show sign of vandalism as the church and the graveyard became nonfunctional.
The three prominent tombs in the grave yard are those of Bernard E J Burge, Robert Douglas and James Peddie. Thy were young British District Magistrate in this district serving under the English company. They were assassinated in a difficult colonial period between1931 and 1933 by Bengali revolutionaries who were off the path chosen by Gandhiji and Tagore. To the freedom fighters and staunch Bengali revolutionaries Gandiji's Satyagraha or Civil Disobedience, never made a dent on the psyche of the arrogant and racists British administrators.
James Peddie ICS (District Magistrate and soldier) was assassinated in 1931) Reason : The young 38 years old official from Springfield, while serving as the DM of Midnapore followed the rules of the court of Justice. With a firm determination to get rid of revolutionaries in that district, he adopted brutal and cruel methods to contain them. So preoccupied with the idea of supressing freedom movements in that area, Peddie overstepped on the limits of tolerance and made wanton arrest and raids. His unjust acts got the attention of young revolutionaries operating underground. The organization chose 2 young men Bimal Dasgupta and Jyoti Jeevan Ghosh. The former a 21-year-old Bimal Dasgupta as preplanned earlier with his associate, chose the right opportunity. When Peddie on April 7, 1931,visited Midnapore Collegiate School for an exhibition in the evening he was shot by Bimal Roy and later died in a hospital. The young British official lost his life for taking justice into his hand . The assassin and the accompalice were sentenced to death later.
Scottish Official Peddie (1892 to April 1931) was laid to rest in St. John’s Church, Midnapore with an elegant cross adorning his gravestone. Beneath this, the stone also bears the inscription: “Erected by his family and brother – Members of Indian Civil Service – Carry On.”
About Scotsman Robert Douglas' ICS a 42-year-old good cricket player and a senior EIC officer (born in Edinburgh) when he became the head of the District Administration at Midnapore, he also faced security problems because he was too cruel to the natives. With respect to dispensation of justice to freedom fighters, he took one step ahead and never showed mercy on the people. His brutal treatment never showed any decline. He obviously fell on the radar of Young Bengal Revolutionary organization.
When Douglas ( 1889- Apr. 1932) was was presiding over a meeting of the District Board, in the evening Two youths Pradoot Bhattacharya and Prabhakangsu entered the room and in a whiff one of them whipped out a gun and shot st Douglas' chest and he died in the hospital. This was done to revenge the killing of two innocent unarmed youths at the detention camp. For his dereliction of duty as a Justice in a magistrate Court, the Karma had sealed his fate at Midnapore, perhaps for his misconduct while on duty in spite of heavy security cover for him.
Robert Douglas (1889- Apr. 1932) was buried in the graveyard at St. John's Church . His tomb was adorned with an exquisite stone cross, Etched at the base of this cross is a heartfelt dedication: “In Proud & Grateful Memory of Robert Douglas.” .... the solemn reminder that “his life was taken by assassins at Midnapore on April 30, 1932”. Beneath these poignant words, a reassuring inscription reads, “There is peace to thee and no hurry.” But his tomb was horribly vandalized by hooligans
The third DM of Midnapore killed while on duty was that of a 38-year-old man named Bernard EJ Berge often known as Bobby to his friends and family Berge’s security was very much tightened as per the wish of his wife. Like other DMs Bobby was brutal when dealing with cases related to freedom fighters, Known for his harsh verdicts, he too became a target for death by the revolutionaries in Bengal. Despite security measure one day when Bobby, an avid Football player, was playing an exhibition match on the football ground on September 2, 1933 of course with careful security cover.
It was preplanned by the young revolutionaries of Bengal to kill Bobby with some volunteers. On the fateful evening 8 shots rang out in the ground. Bobby was assassinated and the assassins Braja Kishore and Ramakrishna Roy were jailed on charges of killing Bernard and they and other accomplice G. Ghose were caught and put to death by the British court in 1934.
Like other assassinated DMs, Bobby was buried at St. John's . Added to the hallowed graveyard was yet another white marble tomb bearing an image of Jesus crucified on a cross. At the base of the grave, a sombre inscription reads, “THE PRICE OF EMPIRE” — a sentiment that resonates with poignant clarity.
Thus under the British Raj, three District Magistrates were killed in succession in 1931, 1932 and 1033. The assassination took place in the same town of Midnapore and all the martyred men were Bengali youths whose motto was to die to free the nation from the British yoke. This sequence of assassination of senor British offices hit the headline of news papers in Europe and across India.
Based on the old article:
https://www.navrangindia.in/2018/08/murder-of-three-colonial-british.html
https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/three-graves-at-st-johns-church-midnapore-three-british-district-magistrates
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