[CPProt.net] Tipu is the Sultan of Sotheby's

[MSN CPPnet]

Tipu is the Sultan of Sotheby's

IANS[ THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2005 08:10:49 PM ]
 
 
LONDON: Sixty-four artefacts belonging Tipu Sultan fetched ₤ 1.23 million after some hectic bidding at a controversial Sotheby's auction. 


The chief attraction, a gold-inlaid sporting gun belonging to 18th century Indian ruler and decorated with his signature, the roaring tiger, was sold for ₤ 100,000 to an anonymous telephone bidder. 

The decorated gun was presented to Lord Cornwallis after the defeat of Tipu at Seringapatam in 1799. 

The sale came amid strong protests by many people in India, as well as non-resident Indians. 

They said the treasures were looted by the British at the Battle of Seringapatanam in 1799 - a defining moment in Britain's colonial sweep of India - and ought to have been handed back to either the government of India or Tipu's descendants who live in Kolkata. 

All the items fetched well over their estimated price with hectic bidding on the floor and from telephone bidders. 

Liquor baron and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Mallya had announced before the sale that he was interested in buying objects but it wasn't known if he was among the buyers. 

The tremendous interest in the auction was evident from the very first item to go under the hammer, an officer's sword and gilt-edged sabre with a tiger on the hilt, which fetched ₤ 13,000 - well over the estimated price of ₤ 4,000. 

The artefacts included swords, porcelain tiger toys, bows and arrows, armbands, guns, tents and even a tiger paw taken from the legs of Tipu's throne. 

The sale was preceded by strong protests by NRIs, who registered their outrage by email and on NRI websites. 

Websites such as Sulekha encouraged its members to write their protests to Sotheby's. 

"The Britishers, when they ruled India, virtually walked away with many rare artefacts and treasures from the various kings and empires," the website said, adding: "It was literally a royal loot and scoot." 

However, there was no government move to either buy back any of the artefacts or try and block the sale. According to diplomatic sources, there is no government policy on the issue.  
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/