Entering Admiral Dawson's residence generates a feeling of stepping into another era. The high wooden gate opens to a driveway, lined on either side by huge trees and colourful hedges. A vintage car stands at the entrance. The bungalow itself is straight out of history - tiled roof, monkey-tops and a small veranda leading to the inner rooms.

The antique teak furniture - a small wooden table, a couple of chairs and a pair of sofas - add to the beauty of the place. Plaques and photographs from the Admiral's long and outstanding career in Indian Navy decorate the walls. The Admiral himself is very punctual in that typical armed forces way, courteous and very earnest.

Ionics columns of the Agram cemetery (pic: Poornima Dasharathi)

The Admiral is fighting another battle after retiring as the Chief of Indian Navy - that of restoring old war cemeteries like Agram (Army Grounds Royal Artillery Maidan) Cemetery in Bengaluru. "Every soldier fights for the country, for you; he saves your life by giving his and the least we can do is to remember him for his deeds" - the Admiral's words rang in my mind for a long time."

"There are many war cemeteries in India. Except for the two cemeteries in Delhi and Kohima Palel that receive substantial funds from War Graves Commission, the rest are not up to the international standards. What we don't realise is that these cemeteries, apart from honouring the dead, reflect the events, society and architecture of those times. In Agram, for example, apart from the military, there are graves of entire families who sadly succumbed during the cholera and plague epidemics that hit the city during the 1820s. The cemetery has graves that are almost 200 years old," he says.

Admiral Dawson in uniform

The Admiral then displayed huge plastic folders full of old photos, newspaper clippings, letters, maps, documents and other details pertaining to the Agram cemetery and his restoration efforts.

References       

Agram Cemetery - by Admiral O.S.Dawson, PVSM, AVSM

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