Exhibition at Tipu's Bangalore palace, on till tomorrow, brings to public view priceless memorabilia from the warrior-king's last days
Exhibition at Tipu's Bangalore palace, on till tomorrow, brings to public view priceless memorabilia from the warrior-king's last days
The saddle cloth on which warrior-king Tipu Sultan died a martyr, complete with bloodstains, is finally on display at Tipu's summer palace in Bangalore.u00a0 
The exhibition, which also has Tipu's personal copy of the Koran, coins and other memorabilia, will continue till tomorrow (May 26). The exhibits will then be locked in the treasury and displayed every year in May in memory of Tipu's martyrdom.
As reported in MiD DAY on May 4, the bloodstained clothes were found in a godown in Gunjam and this is the first time they've been displayed to the public.
Journey to Gunjam
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Tipu's finance minister Diwan Poornaiah is the reason why the treasures are still in India. Poornaiah, the only one with access to Tipu's belongings, is believed to have escaped to Tamil Nadu after Tipu's death, saving it from the East India Company.
On consulting astrologers, Poornaiah's descendants were told that the cause of their misfortune was Tipu's secret treasure. The family secretly returned the belongings to authorities at Gunjam 20 years ago.
But officials of Hazrath Tipu Sultan Wakf Estate, Gunjam, Srirangapatna, were cagey about the details.
"They were with Diwan Poornaiah's family. That's all I can tell at the moment," said Aziz Ulla Baig, chief of the board.u00a0u00a0
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PIECE OF HISTORY: This saddle cloth is stained with Tipu's blood. He was killed by the British in 1799 pics/Satish Badiger |
Tipu's war costume including a kurta-like wardress, saddle on which Tipu sat during his final battle, his silver and gold coins, his prayer beads and personal copy of the Koran were among the treasures recently discovered in the dumps at Gunjam inu00a0 Srirangapatna where Tipu's mausoleum is situated, around 200 years after his death in 1799.
Left out by the chief minister
The man instrumental in discovering Tipu Sultan's treasure was left out of the exhibition because chief minister B S Yeddyurappa did not want to share the dais with a Leftist, said sources.
Tipu scholar Talkad Chickrangegowda was a regular visitor to Gunjam at Srirangapatna and had spotted the treasure in the godown. He played a key role in organising the exhibition but was left out on the most important day.
Chickrangegowda confirmed this.
"The chief of Hazrath Tipu Sultan Wakf Board called me yesterday and said the CM did not want to share the dais with me. He expressed his helplessness and that's why I didn't go," he told MiD DAY.But authorities denied it.
"We are extremely thankful to him and had invited him to the event," said Ayub Khan, staff of Hazrath Tipu Sultan Wakf Estate, Gunjam, and incharge of the display.
Estimated antique value of Tipu Sultan memorabilia
Pistol: Rs 10 lakhu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Koran: Invaluableu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
9 swords: Rs 9 croreu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
2 daggers: Rs 50 lakhu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
30 coins: Rs 30 lakhu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
War costume with blood stains (Saddle cloth): Rs 5 croreu00a0
Also on display are Tipu's water jug and supernatural bowl that had the power to cure any ailment.
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