Fabulous Nizam jewels return to dazzle Hyderabad

Fabulous Nizam jewels return to dazzle Hyderabad

By Mohammed Shafeeq, Indo-Asian News Service

Hyderabad, Dec 20 (IANS) The fabulous jewels of the Nizams, rated as one of the world's priceless collections of gold, diamond and pearl artefacts, will be back on display in the state where they had ruled for centuries.

The 173-piece collection, estimated to be worth Rs.200 billion ($4.4 billion) and now belonging to the Indian government, will be on public display at the Salar Jung Museum from Jan 4 for around two months.


The jewellery was acquired in 1995 by the government, which said it was a national treasure, after a 17-year legal battle and since then it has been kept in a Mumbai vault under high security.


The jewellery from a vault of the Reserve Bank of India was flown into the city on......

Trust other Hyderabadis will update!

Hear it is to be inaugurated on the 31st DEC '05 by the Governor and open to public from the 1st of JAN '06 now?

what was the legal battle over? how come the government ended up with the nizam's jewels?

Depending on how you look at it.....

Post Independance, the private kingdoms were "compelled" into joining the Indian Union for a yearly fee called the "privy purse"(this was done by Sardar Patel). Indira Gandhi said, 20-30 years later, screw the agreement/treaty, everything belongs to GOI. a la eminent domain style takeover of the lands of these erstwhile princes.

After all, who were they going to complain to? The Brits had left way back.....

With this background now, the land belongs to the GOI, OK? Now about the earnings got from tilling/taxing the lands went into building the castles and buying the Rolls Royces and jewels. So the GOI, not satisfied with getting the land went after the castles and personal effects of the princes.

Some joined Politics and specifically the Congress(Scindias for eg) to keep their land as well as the palaces. (the GOI is very selective in applying the law of the land as any Gov. anywhere in the world) Others were reduced to penury by the double whammy of takeover of their homes by unsympathetic judges who allowed the illegal infringement.

Obviously, when you talking 100+ carat stones, no ones going to give in without a fight..... :-) & that too if it's been in your family for a few generations.

It's a perception thing. generations of wrongs righted by another wrong.

THe plus side, the jewels never leave the country , the -ve side, we stole it from one of our own citizens.

that's my take on the whole thing.

Here are a few links for IMer's interested:

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1815/18150980.htm
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/200...0800060200.htm

Gallery:http://www.eastbeads.com/galleryofnizam.asp

Imagine the wealth in pearls stolen from the museum since accession..

thanks dd, your post makes sense, and i like your wry humour. i have read the autobiography of gayatri devi and that squares with her description of the events for princes after independence. whether or not it was fair or right is another issue i guess, but at least it keeps some fabulous treasures in india.

and thanks for the photos - mmmmmmmmmmmm.

the nizam actually lived in my home town for a while.

I freel the exact level of sympathy for any royalty anywhere that they feel for me.

(get a rope, find a tree . . .)

Hyderabadi...that is the best display of the Nizam's Jewls that I have ever come across on the net

Wow.... now I HAVE to go and check out the real stuff! my wife will be impressed

From:deccan.com
"Nizam’s jewels beat Charminar

Hyderabad, Jan. 8: The exhibition of the Nizam’s fabulous jewellery is the most popular destination for delegates who have gathered here for the fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The exhibition tops the list of must-see places, ahead of traditional favourites like the Charminar, the pearl and bangle bazaars and the Birla temple. Most visitors had only heard of the famous jewellery collection of the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan that includes the Jacob diamond, the seventh biggest diamond in the world. The 173-piece collection is estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crores.

Mr Raj B. Hui, 19, a fourth generation Indian from Canada, told this correspondent: “My grandmother told me about the Jacob diamond and other jewellery. She told me not to miss it.” Said Mr Ch Lakshmana Chary, originally from the Nallakunta locality here who migrated to Australia, “Though it’s almost 25 years since I moved to Australia, Indians there still ask me about Hyderabad and its specialities. This time, I can tell them that I have seen Nizam’s jewellery.”

Ms Anouck, a 26-year-old student of international relations from France said quite a few delegates were planning to visit the Salar Jung Museum which is hosting the exhibition. “It’s special, they say. I am planning to go with them,” she said. Ms Anouck is here to study the networking of Indian Diaspora with their home country.

Mr Shyam S. Sreekaram, wife Shashi and daughter Sreya from South Africa are attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas amidst their vacation here. “It’s a rare opportunity. Now that we here in Hyderabad, I will show my family the jewellery,” he said. Most delegates had heard of the jewellery exhibition during their pre-event inquiries with the organisers.

The Travel Corporation of India had suggested a list of tourist places, but most didn’t register online. It is only after they came here that they heard of the collection and decided that it is worth a try. A few delegates are vacationing in India but most are in Hyderabad for three to four days. No transport has been organised for touring around, but buses could be arranged on Monday if there are enough takers."

Well this is a must see!
I will be in Hyderabad around the 15th of February. Will the exhibition still be open? And where is it (what should I tell the ricshaw driver )???

The display started in January it is supposed to go on for two months. I recollect seeing the museum's website but can't seem to find it now...
Any autorickshaw driver would know Salar Jung Museum.

Here is a link to the AP Tourism's webpage:
http://www.aptourism.com/apservlets/...RICT=Hyderabad

Here's the Museum's website, sadly not much information there, doesn't even look like it's been updated in a while:
http://www.salarjungmuseum.org/default.htm

thanks a lot!
can't wait to see it live