Lucknow's British cemeteries are home to the graves of some of the most celebrated figures of the empire, including Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, whose bravery is marked by a statue in Trafalgar Square, and Major William Hodson, founder of the Hodson's Horse irregular cavalry, which continues today as the Indian Army's 4th Horse Regiment.
Today there are around 2,000 graves in the cemetery of its ruined church, and more at nearby Alambagh, which have become pilgrimage sites for their descendants. The cemeteries are protected by the Archeological Survey of India. Descendants of the dead, including the leading judge Sir Mark Havelock-Allan, the 5th Baronet of Lucknow, have voiced support for their conservation.
Some of the graves however could now be destroyed under plans by the city's authorities to build a new Metro Rail system for the Uttar Pradesh state capital. Officials have voiced irritation at Archeological Survey of India rules which list them as protected historical monuments and prevent any building within 100 metres of them.
Officials believe the Survey should waive the rules because some of the graves are not tended by relatives and standing in the way of the city's modernisation.
One Metro project manager, who asked not to be named, said he believed the objections would be overcome.
"There are some difficulties and we are trying to sort them out with concerned officials. We will take care of everything before taking a final decision," he said.
P.K Mishral, superintendent of the Lucknow branch of the Archeological Survey of India, said the graves are historic monuments and his job is to protect them. "These are Christian graves of British soldiers and officers who were killed in the mutiny. There was heavy shelling and many died. The centre of the battle was the Residency. People come to visit and they also visit the graves. It's beautiful and we maintain them to prevent further decay. We have to protect all these things relevant to our history. It's just history and nothing else," he said.
They were among 2,500 British men women and children killed during the 'Indian Mutiny', when Indian soldiers serving in British-led regiments rebelled throughout Northern India.
The rebellion is regarded in India as its 'First War of Independence' from British rule and was ignited by rumours that newly issued bullets for their Enfield rifles were greased with pork and beef – which outraged Muslims, for whom pork is forbidden, and Hindus who revere cows.
Indian troops rebelled in Delhi, Meerut, Jhansi, Kanpur, and Lucknow, where the British community was besieged for sixth months at the Residency, the home of the British Resident General, and soldiers fought disease and continual onslaught to survive.