GH Krumbiegel Headstone Damaged

27 Aug 2026

The Station House Officer / Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order),

Bangalore City Police,

Bangalore, Karnataka.

And

The Director / Deputy Director,

Horticulture Department (Lalbagh),

Bangalore, Karnataka.

26 Aug 2026

Subject: Urgent Request for Investigation, Repair, and Restoration of the Headstone of Gustav Krumbiegel (Hosur Rd Cemetery)

Respected Sir/Madam,

We, at Heritage Beku, are writing to bring to your urgent attention a matter of profound historical and cultural significance: the severe damage to the headstone of the legendary landscape architect and visionary, Gustav Krumbiegel, located at Hosur Rd Cemetery, Bangalore (Gate 1, Plot 6, Row 7, Grave 6).

Mr. Krumbiegel's contributions to Bangalore’s landscape, particularly his iconic design work at Lalbagh, are invaluable to our city's heritage. The destruction of his grave marker represents a significant loss to our shared history.

Ms. Alyia Krumbiegel, his great-granddaughter and a core member of Heritage Beku, has expressed deep grief over this incident. She mentioned that she was very upset when informed about it, but was hesitant to burden the community with this issue, especially given the ongoing discussions regarding the 5% parks bill.

She has noted that many people have come forward offering help, for which she is deeply grateful. She is currently awaiting the report from the Lalbagh officials, who promised to inspect the site today. Enclosed are photos showing the current, severely damaged condition of the tombstone.

We, therefore, respectfully request the following immediate actions:

1. Ascertain the Cause: Conduct a thorough joint inspection (Police and Horticulture) to determine if this damage was caused by accident, natural wear and tear, or deliberate vandalism.

2. Investigate and Apprehend: If the cause is determined to be vandalism, we urge the Police Department to swiftly investigate, identify, and apprehend the culprits, as such desecration of historical monuments cannot be tolerated.

3. Urgent Repair and Restoration: We implore the Horticulture Department to treat this as a priority and expedite the professional repair and restoration of the headstone to its original state. We also request that you share the findings of the promised Lalbagh official report with us.

4. Collaborative Action: We are fully prepared to collaborate with the authorities, mobilize resources, and assist in any way possible to ensure this piece of Bangalore’s history is preserved for future generations.

We look forward to your prompt and positive response, and we thank you in advance for your urgent attention to this distressing matter.

Yours sincerely,

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

On behalf of Heritage Beku

GH Krumbiegel Grave Damage .docx

Download DOCX • 1.43MB