The tomb of Mary Taylor, the wife of Meadows Taylor who introduced India to foreigners through his historic book, though a historical monument, cannot be traced easily by visitors.
The graveyard is either encroached upon or the land is allotted to private individuals.
However, about 1.5 acres of land where these tombs are situated is surrounded by a compound which is open in one side.
Animals and people answer their natural calls here.
The following information is written on the tomb: “Sacred to the memory of Mary, wife of Captain Meadows Taylor, HH.
The Nizam’s Army.
Born on 1st June, 1808.
She died after a lingering illness, 20th September, 1844, aged 36 years.
Those who loved her on earth and they were many, valued her tender devotedness and with them her memory rests in that deep affection which death cannot impair and in her own humble hope of a merciful reunion hereafter through Christ, our Saviour.” Mary was the beloved wife of Capt Meadows Taylor who was born in England but spent most of his life in South India.
He was the collector of Naladurga, Maharashtra.
Meadows Taylor, who was known as the best administrator in the Nizam’s government of Hyderabad, was in Shorapur Samsthan of the present Yadgir district for about 12 years, guiding the minor prince Raja Venkatappa Naik.
Though he was a British serving the Nizam’s government, he wrote many historic books including Architecture at Beejapoor-An ancient Mahammedan Capital in the Bombay Presidency, Architecture in Dharwar and Mysore, The People of India-A series of Photographic Illustrations with Descriptive Letterpress of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan.
His most famous book ‘Confession of a Thug’ was translated into many languages, including Kannada.
In one of his books, he writes, “India has produced men as great and memorable in many respects as those of Western nations.
When Europe was in the darkest gloom of barbarism and ignorance, India was the seat of intellectual sciences.
Its philosophers were ranked with Greeks.
Its people produced the most beautiful and delicate works and the records of their social polity exhibit the existence of elaborate codes of law and diplomacy with provisions for mutual security and protection of property to which the West was a long stranger.” The great grandsons of Meadows Taylor and Mary Taylor will visit the tomb of their great grandmother Mary Taylor on March 6, President of the Research Centre of History of Surpur Bhaskar Rao Madbul said.
“The graveyard can be made a place of tourist interest.
It should be maintained well at least at the time of visit of great grandsons of Meadows and Mary Taylor.
Otherwise, we will be sending a wrong signal to the world,” Bhaskar Rao Madbul observed.