KOLKATA | India | International Jewish Cemetery Project

(formerly known as Calcutta) Magen David Synagogue, built by Elias David Joseph Esra in memory of his father, David Joseph Ezra who died in 1882 is the largest synagogue in the east.

At 24 U.C. Banerjee Road not far from the main cemetery at Narkeldanga is a tiny [unnamed] private Jewish cemetery with a few graves, which opened in the 1870s and closed after about twenty years. Of the seven graves, of which two are infants, four were identified and are included in the general Calcutta list with the notation that the burials are in this cemetery. The original part of the list prepared in 1954 by Rabbi Musleah had first names, with no surname indicated. Esmond D. Ezra updated it in 1984. He attempted to indicate last names where possible. Two letters indicating the general area and then a number indicate the grave locations. According to Esmond Ezra, some of the names with no location listed died in the 1950s. Ezra also gave credit to many, who helped him create his list. This cemetery is located beyond the Soorah Bridge, although it was incorrectly identified as being on Kolutol St. and Harinbari Lane in some city directories, but that is the Armenian Burial Ground. Because most of the 3,000 names did NOT have a last name indicated, I used the last name in the string of names (sometimes 10 or more!) as the last name. It might be the last name of the father. Please use the last name only knowing that it is used as a finding aid more than definite name. The names were very different from most western European names. It was not always even clear if a person was male or female. The names were sent by Henry Brownrigg to Alec Shapiro, through the auspices of the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (website - July 2008).
map to cemetery on Narkeldanga Main Road. 2009 photos. current "history/caretaker". photographic overview.
"South Park Cemetery, an old, colonial cemetery, opened in 1767 and an oasis of calm, in the centre of Kolkata. Tranquil and quiet, but for the shrillcry of a rare peacock, or the squawking crows, on the tall, mossy gravestones. As one of the oldest, Christian burial grounds in the city, the earliest grave dates to 1768 and the last memorial, was erected in 1895. From here continue to Kolkata's synagogue, maintained by two Muslim families." Source: [January 2010]