The gem-studded ring, (photo credit The Hindu) adds more significance
as it bears the name ‘Ram’ in Nagari letters. The ring is part
of the private collection of Fitzroy John Somerset. Tipu Sultan (1750 – 1799)
ruled from Mysore. Son of
Hyder Ali of Mysore
and Fatima Fakhr-un-Nisa, he is hailed for his resistance against military
advances of the British. This post is not against the
historian or his plea but to highlight my perception of our instantaneous
reaction and the way we tend to forget things sooner………… another unrelated news that further cements
my perception is that of a British
auction house putting on sale three
explosive letters revealing Mahatma Gandhi's Mahatma Gandhi's deep concerns
over the behavior of his eldest son Harilal, accused of rape by his own
daughter. What would a buyer of these letters do ~ and
why should these create any sensation now, why malign whom World holds in high
esteem ??? The letters are purportedly in Gujarati and in
good condition, reportedly have come
from a branch of Gandhi's family to the present vendor- but what is that is
sought to be portrayed !!!
It is a historical fact that Tipu Sultan fought valiantly against the East India Company ~ finally was defeated and killed by a stronger force at Srirangapattinam in 1799. The victors obviously carried many things as trophies and among them reportedly wree the ring and sword of the defeated chieftain. The British museum has an entry on the ring and sword as trophies of the Battle of Seringapatam.
the sword and the ring image credit : http://www.britishmuseum.org/
A web search on ‘Tipu’s sword’ gives you conflicting news. Before we read something on that there was the play ‘the Sword of Tipu Sultan’ broadcast on the DD National in 1990, which was based on a novel by Bhagwan Gidwani. The drama hit many obstacles that included a major fire accident that happened on the sets in 1990; the fire, which took place in Mysore, burnt down a major portion of the Premier Studios where the drama was being shot and claimed 62 lives.
In 2004 BBC reported that the sword of 18th century ruler Tipu was bought at auction last autumn by Indian drinks magnate Vijya Mallya. It was auctioned by the family of Scottish General David Baird, given it for his bravery in toppling the sultan. Mr Mallya bought the sword at a London auction, but the identity of the buyer had been kept a secret. The announcement coming as it did was claimed that it had nothing to do with the parliamentary elections.
In 2011, there was this report in TOI that even a decade after the CBI closed the case, nobody knows the whereabouts of Tipu Sultan's historic golden sword he used to attack Capt. Woodhall who reportedly choked all his escape routes. In 1985, CBI officials led by former state DGP Sreekumar in the guise of an Arab businessmen interested in buying the sword lured people who possessed this sword and seized it along with other antiques which included gold palm leaves manuscripts and other artefacts belongings to Tipu Sultan. The case was reportedly closed in 2000. Of the five accused, three died during the trial, one was acquitted and fifth was absconding ~ the sword was handed over to the archeology department then. However, officials of both ASI and state archeology department have no knowledge of the sword and other antiques.
This reportedly was different one and had nothing to do with the one bought by Vijay Mallya. Tipu used many swords but researchers have authenticated only three and this is one of those, it was stated. It was stated Arthur Wellesly recovered this sword from Tipu's hands after his death and passed it to Charles IV, Duke of Richmond who presented it to Mysore maharajas. It went missing from the palace in 1920s
Recently in Oct 2013, Sotheby’s inaugural auction of Art of Imperial India attracted bidding from around the globe to hit a whopping sales figure of Rs 182,598,304. Over 90 exquisite lots reflecting the broad artistic traditions of Imperial India were part of the auction. A group of 11 works relating to Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan were also among the prized collections – of which Tipu’s sword, fitted with an English blade, was bought for Rs 97,85,999 by a mystery bidder on the phone.- reported Deccan Chronicle.
The point is did any of these make any impact on us and where is the need for Govt burning precious tax payer’s money to buy a ring purportedly worn by Tipu. How many of us who would react in online social forums on this have ever visited Egmore museum, established in 1851 rich in archaeological and numismatic collections. It has the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe. Many of the buildings within the Museum campus are over 100 years old. One needs to see for self, the state at which the museum stands now.
Concluding, Edward Green Balfour [1813 – 1889] was a Scottish surgeon, orientalist and pioneering environmentalist in India. He founded museums at Madras and Bangalore, a zoological garden in Madras and was instrumental in raising awareness on forest conservation and public health in India. He published a Cyclopaedia of India, several editions of which were published after 1857, translated works on health into Indian languages and wrote on a variety of subjects.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
15th May 2014.
