An Andhra Pradesh team, in London recently, had to make hectic efforts to locate the graves of Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton and C.P. Brown, two Englishmen who had endeared themselves to the Telugus through their work.
Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, chairman, A.P. Hindi Academy, and Mandali Buddha Prasad, former Minister, wanted to place a wreath on Sir Arthur’s tomb but could not find out where it was. After contacting various agencies, they finally found it in a cemetery at Dorking, a tombstone etched with his name and information about his work in India. Dorking, which lies 50 km from London, is the place where Sir Arthur spent his last days, preaching the Bible and experimenting on cultivation of new wheat strains.
The tombstone described Sir Arthur as “irrigation Cotton” who was involved in construction of large scale irrigation projects, dams, aqueducts, bridges and canals in India.
After similar efforts, the tomb of C.P. Brown, the British officer who worked as Collector of Kadapa district and gave Telugus their first Telugu-to-English dictionary was found in a cemetery at Kensel Green, the heart of London, but in a highly dilapidated condition. The tomb had sunk partially and was under threat of being encroached by other tombs.
The Telugu Association of London has taken up renovation of the tombs of these two great personalities.
