We have to thank this man for the UK's love of Chicken Tikka Masala; his gravestone is below.
It was he, Sake Deen Mahomed, who in 1810 introduced Indian restaurants into England. These days it would be difficult to find even a tiny village that doesn't have an 'Indian'. We love them that much.
I have no idea why, but whilst we were away in France, Mr Mahomed's gravestone at our local church has been cleaned and re-painted. Perhaps a distant relation has had the work undertaken. I hope no-one tries to modernise any of the other stones in the graveyard. I like to see the age of things.
Mahomed's gravestone has a peculiarity; it is double-sided.
I don't think I've ever seen a gravestone before that was dedicated on both sides; this one mentions both his wife Jane, and daughter Rosanna, on the back (or is it the front?). As well as a son who died aged 12.
Sharp-eyed viewers will see that his wife Jane died aged 3 years. Unlikely methinks!
I'm waiting for some wag to spray 'sore thumb' on it.
Sharp eyed will read the whole inscription and see the daughter died aged 3😀
ReplyDeleteI know that, but the way it's written suggests otherwise. Read again!
DeleteAgree with Traveller considering that the inscription is dedicated to daughter of man and his wife. Still, English is nothing but a language to keep one on one's toes.
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'and Jane, his wife, who departed this life Jan 7th 1818 aged 3 years'. What could be clearer than that?
DeleteAlthough his children died young, Mr Mahomed seems to have lived to a ripe old age.
ReplyDeleteYes, and he was quite an important entrepreneur in his day.
DeleteI often lurk in graveyards during my country rambles and I have never seen a double-sided gravestone before. In Church of England graveyards, the text on a gravestone is supposed to look east.
ReplyDeleteI think most of ours face West. However, most of the actual gravestones have been removed to the perimeter to make more usable lawns.
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