Pogson’s Tomb: Three Narratives of Life and Death in Banaras

This essay examines the life of Lieutenant-Colonel W.R. Pogson (1787–1843), a middle-ranking officer in the East India Company’s army, as well as the socio-cultural significance of his death in contemporary Banaras (Varanasi). Pogson was also a noted orientalist who wrote at length about India’s history and military cultures. His monumental grave, located in a poor neighbourhood of Banaras, now acts as a shrine for local residents, and they consider Pogson himself to be a wish-granting spirit. The tomb thus serves as an alternative religious space in this largely Hindu city. Three different versions of Pogson’s life and death are recounted here as a way of illustrating the different meanings one can ascribe to Pogson’s historical and contemporary significance. This essay also argues that Pogson’s continued relevance to the life of Banaras’ poor highlights the failures of recent attempts to rebrand the city as an aspirational modern Hindu space.