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Naidu seeks PM help to get Nizam jewellery

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the transfer of the Nizam's jewellery collection to Hyderabad for public display.

In a letter addressed to the prime minister at the weekend, Naidu said, "The Nizam's jewellery is an integral part of the history of Hyderabad and it will be in the fitness of things if the collection is brought back to Hyderabad and exhibited at a museum in the city.

"The state government has taken up an ambitious programme of developing tourism in the state. The jewellery of the Nizam, which has antique and historic value, will be an added attraction to the tourists, both domestic and international," he said.

The latest plea is a sequel to the public assurance given by Naidu at the inauguration of the Nizam's Museum at Purani Haveli in Hyderabad on Friday that he would make all-out efforts to bring the Nizam's jewellery back to Hyderabad for putting it on public display at a museum. He had also exuded confidence that he would succeed in his task.

Recalling his earlier plea to the prime minister in April 1998 on the jewellery belonging to the late seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, Naidu said he was writing again to bring the issue to his notice for necessary action.

He said that the jewellery was rare and unique with a great heritage value. The collection includes the fabled Jacob's diamond. "This jewellery will be worth Rs 2,000 crore in the international market and is inter-linked with the customs, traditions and history of the Nizam dynasty. It will be appropriate to keep this jewellery in a museum in Hyderabad," he pointed out.

After a protracted litigation over the custody of the jewellery, the Supreme Court had directed the government of India to take over the jewellery after depositing Rs 2,180 million in the Nizam's Jewellery Trust account.

Accordingly, the government of India deposited the amount and acquired the jewellery in 1995. The jewellery is since lying in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India in Delhi.

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