By Faisal Fareed, Twocircles.net
For nearly two centuries, the Nawabs of Rampur ruled their riyasat. Now their descendents are worried about the news that their crowns are being auctioned in London.
The auction company, Christie’s, the famous London-based auction house, has slated November 30 as auction date for two crowns belonging to Rampur riyasat and December 1 for auctioning one precious necklace worn by Nawabs.
It is however, not known how these valuables reached London and landed with auction company.
Nawab Kazim Ali Khan alias Naved Miyan who is also MLA in UP confirmed the auction and shared the picture of the crowns on his social media account. As of now, Nawab Kazim claimed that he is in conversation with other descendants of the clan for stopping the auction.
Nawabs of Rampur ruled for nearly 174 years. The last scion who has been given the title of Nawab is Kazim Ali Khan. Rampur riyasat was the first to merge with India after independence. After the death of Nawab Raza Ali Khan in 1966, several valuables including crown, jewellery were handed over to his descendents and kept in Kothi Khas Bagh in Rampur. It means that these crowns were safe till 1966.
Co-convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Rohilkhand Chapter, Kashif Ali Khan who also lives in Rampur, claimed that the crowns were illegally smuggled from India and reached London. “We are not aware what happened today but the crowns are going under the hammer. Indian government should try to bring back the heritage of our country,” he said.
Meanwhile, locals in Rampur claimed that several valuables went missing from Kothi Khas Bagh and nothing was revealed. Perhaps these crowns and other articles too were stolen and reached London. The incident was biggest theft in the country then in the decade of 70s and 80s. Kothi Khas bagh is still there in Rampur, but it has lost his pristine glory.
The Nawab family too turned political and its descendents represented Rampur in parliament several times and the latest scion Nawab Kazim Ali is Congress MLA from Swar in the district. Now he has shifted his loyalty towards BSP. The acrimony between Nawab family and Samajwadi Party’s Muslim face Azam Khan however still makes news.