Greek Memorial (Dhaka)

Overview

Greek memorial, built in around AD 1900, looks like ancient Greek temples, a small yellow structure on land owned by the Greek Community, which flourished in Dhaka in the 19th century. It is inside the TSC (Teachers and students training centre) of DU (DHAKA UNIVERSITY) standing alone on main Shahbagh Avenue and faces Ramna Race Course. To its southern side is now being built Atomic Research Centre and to its north a Student’s Centre. It is considered to be the only such structure extant outside Greece.

History

The earliest record of a 'Modern', commercial Greek presence in India is to be found in the Latin Memorial tablets of two Greek merchants in the Catholic Cathedral of Calcutta- the dates of their deaths in this city are given as 1713 and 1728. Some Greeks arrived overland through Persia and Afghanistan but many more chose the sea route via the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

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Greek Memorial standing alone at TSC ground, 2011

They came from the Greek Diaspora- from Asia Minor, from the Aegean and Ionian Islands, from mainland Greece but especially from the Thracian city of Philippopolis (now called Plovdiv and lying within Bulgaria). They settled chiefly in Dhaka and in Calcutta. It is difficult to be precise about their numbers but between 1770 and 1800 there were probably about two hundred or more Greeks in Dhaka and Narayanganj and somewhat less in Calcutta. Most of the Bengal Greeks were engaged in trade. Mainly they used to trade jute and salt. Somewhere around the mid 19th century their business broke down and in the last quarter of the 19th century the London based Greek firm of Ralli Brothers constructed a memorial at Ramna in Dhaka to the memory of their early merchants 1820-1860. Many historians believed in 1815, it was built at the initiative of priest JM MacDonald of the St Thomas Church. Among the foreigners the Greeks were the last to settle as a community in Dhaka.

Architecture Value

The monument is square shaped, which, with its projecting bay, one on each of the four sides, makes a cross plan. The bay is is formed by two fluted pillars of Doric order, on which rests the entablature and a triangular pediment. Over the top of the eastern face there is a inscription “MAKARIOI OYS EPHELEPHOY KAI PROSELABOY.” One entrance from the east leads into the memorial.

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Greek Memorial's Entrance, 2011

On the walls within are fixed nine inscriptions carved on black stones, and another lies broken on the floor stone is of Sultana Alexander, who died on February 6, 1800. A stone bears the names of the three Ellias brothers. John Demetrius Ellias (d 1836), one of the brothers, was killed by a tiger while he was hunting at Mirpur, 25 miles off what is now the Dhaka University campus. Basil Demetrius, the Greek clerk at St Thomas' Church, was also buried at the place. Besides being a church clerk, he was also a writing master and a teacher at the Dhaka College for 10 years. He died in 1860.

Gravestone Inscription

Few of the Inscriptions are listed below, The information was collected from the transcription done by Dr Helen Abadzi, a Greek staff member of the World Bank.

The ancient Greek inscription on the front frieze reads: “Blessed are those whom you (God) have chosen and have taken with you.” Counter clockwise, the gravestone inscription reads: Gravestone 1(Bilingual) Greek: Here lies Sulatana, Wife of Alexander (son of) Kyinakos Philippou Politou: 1800; January 25 [by the julian calender] paid the common debt in Dacca. English: Under this stone are deposited the mortal remains of Mrs. Sultana Alexander, who departed the life Tuesday the 6th of February 1800: aged 34 years. Gravestone -2 (Greek) Here lies the late Theodosia, wife of Theodore [son of] George Philippou Politou, 1805, April 10, paid common debt in Dacca may her memory be everlasting. Gravestone 3 (English) To the memory: Mrs. Madalene and Sohia Jordan: also to that their husband, Mr. Joseph Jordan of Cesareah: merchant of Narayangonj. The latter departed this life the 10th of February 1819; aged about 60 years. This monument is created as a tribute of affection to their memory by their afflicted orphan children. Gravestone 4 (English poem in Urdu with Latin characters) To the memory of Nicholas Demetrus Elias, elder son Demetrius Elias esp. Died 5th March 1843: aged 46 years Mrs. Desired verse Dunia ke jo meza hain (whatever joys in the world) Haryiz kam na honge (may never be fewer) Charcha ahe rahega (the discussion will happen here) Afsos hai ham na honge (unfortunately I will not exist)

Present Condition

The building was renovated in 1997 at the expenses of the Government of Greece through the initiative of ambassador Mr. Constabtinos Ailianos and the active collaboration of former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor, Professor. A. K. Azad Chowdhury. But since then it is left out.

Present address

TSC, Dhaka University.

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Greek Memorial Google Earth View, 2011

Reference

• Banglapedia volume 4
• Dhaka- sriti bisritir nagari" by Muntasir Mamun

News paper references:

• Daily Janakantha
• The Daily Star (Thursday, December 21, 2000)
• Shudhuidhaka (6 march saturay, 2010)
• August 1, 2006 issue of the New Age

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