The empty Grave: Jesus, Death and Resurrection

25th April, 2019.Park Street Cemetery. College students are normally, not known to be ones haunting graveyards. Besides, matters of life and death are neither a part of the course curriculum, nor really things that interest the young minds. But, then again students of the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC) are not the ordinary pupils cramming themselves with the mundane, nor do they restrict the process of learning to the campus alone.

Thus, there was nothing out of the ordinary when forty BESC students, joined by ten students from campuses around the world, trooped into the Park Street cemetery to discuss grave (no pun intended) matters of life, death and the life beyond. They were joined by Prof Dilip Shah, the Dean of Student Affairs of BESC and noted writer cum entrepreneur Amar Agarwal.

Ostensibly, the event was organised to sensitise the students about the Christian thoughts and Culture in view of the Easter Celebrations. However, the discussion took on higher planes as questions that have tested mankind since its inception were asked with the wise seeking to address the issues raised by the young to the best of their abilities and knowledge. Amar Agarwal shared his perspective, but it was Prof Dilip Shah, who drew upon his vast pool of knowledge to give a discourse on how different religions of the world view life, death and resurrection that had the students spellbound. Visiting students from abroad too chipped in with their views of the take and what followed was an extremely thought-provoking discussion that had the participants almost spell bound.

Apart from the religious significance, the Part Street cemetery is also a virtual storehouse of historical monuments, a cultural heritage, with some examples of extremely well-crafted architecture. As a matter of fact, while most Kolkatans know where it is located, very few have actually walked into it, leave alone being aware of the treasures contained therein.  The students were awestruck by the world within the world, almost transported to an early age and were struck by the tombstones, their content and the sanctity of the feelings they portrayed. However, the sad state that some of the structures were in, ravaged by time and society’s apathy was something that deeply moved the students.

A resolve was also taken by those present to do something to address the issue.

This report has been filed by Yash Chamaria with photographer Shouvik Das of the Expressions collective of the BESC.