10-11-2003, 05:56 AM
[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_411883,000900040001.htm"]56 years after freedom, Bhonsles still fighting Empire[/url]
Sarita Kaushik
Nagpur, October 10
Fifty-six years after India gained independence from British rule, a royal family from Nagpur continues to wage its battle against the Empire.
The Bhonsles are fighting a 150-year-old legal suit against Britain, and the Lord's Bank of England, in a London court for the return of illegally sold assets worth billions.
The seeds were sown in the late 19th century, when the British attacked Nagpur, then ruled by the Bhonsles. After Bhonsles were defeated, the British victors turned looters. An estimated 14 trucks of Gold and 125 trucks of Silver, apart from a horde of ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, rich treasures, horses and elephants were looted and sent to Kolkata.
Records reveal that they were auctioned at Kolkata. From their proceeds was born the Lord's Bank in England!
Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle, scion of the senior Bhonsle Palace here, told Hindustan Times that the then ruler, Janoji Raje Bhonsle, decided to take the matter to court. In around 1855 he petitioned before a court in England for the return of his property.
Mudhoji Raje says that the assets at the time of their loot were estimated by the Bhonsle records at around Rs 3.50 crores. Eight generations later, Mudhoji Raje is unwilling to hazard a guess of their present worth.
In between, the legal wrangle has been eventful if not decisive. Lower courts twice ordered payment of certain sums to the Bhosle Trust -- established to oversee the upkeep of 1300 temples in Nagpur. The first such directive came during Janoji's time and the second during Raghuji Raje's. But no jewellery has ever been returned, laments Mudhoji Raje.
The Bhonsles are represented by London's Gandhi Law Firm, Mudhoji Raje says. During Raghuji Raje's period, the case was even represented by renowned freedom fighter and social worker Dadabhai Nooroji, he adds.
It was during this time that an olive branch was extended to the Bhonsles. Some part of this wealth could be returned if some descendents of the Bhonsle's considered settling in Britain, the court said. The Bhonsle's have currently applied for removal of this condition in their petition.
"Only recently a junior court actually recognized the Bhonsle right and the illegality of de-possessing the erstwhile royal family of its assets, but it has referred its judgment for validation to the Higher Court," Mudhoji says. "Recently" in this case means 25 to 30 years ago.
Mudhoji may have waited for a long time, but says he has a "gut feeling" that it is close to "settlement time".
Sarita Kaushik
Nagpur, October 10
Fifty-six years after India gained independence from British rule, a royal family from Nagpur continues to wage its battle against the Empire.
The Bhonsles are fighting a 150-year-old legal suit against Britain, and the Lord's Bank of England, in a London court for the return of illegally sold assets worth billions.
The seeds were sown in the late 19th century, when the British attacked Nagpur, then ruled by the Bhonsles. After Bhonsles were defeated, the British victors turned looters. An estimated 14 trucks of Gold and 125 trucks of Silver, apart from a horde of ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, rich treasures, horses and elephants were looted and sent to Kolkata.
Records reveal that they were auctioned at Kolkata. From their proceeds was born the Lord's Bank in England!
Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle, scion of the senior Bhonsle Palace here, told Hindustan Times that the then ruler, Janoji Raje Bhonsle, decided to take the matter to court. In around 1855 he petitioned before a court in England for the return of his property.
Mudhoji Raje says that the assets at the time of their loot were estimated by the Bhonsle records at around Rs 3.50 crores. Eight generations later, Mudhoji Raje is unwilling to hazard a guess of their present worth.
In between, the legal wrangle has been eventful if not decisive. Lower courts twice ordered payment of certain sums to the Bhosle Trust -- established to oversee the upkeep of 1300 temples in Nagpur. The first such directive came during Janoji's time and the second during Raghuji Raje's. But no jewellery has ever been returned, laments Mudhoji Raje.
The Bhonsles are represented by London's Gandhi Law Firm, Mudhoji Raje says. During Raghuji Raje's period, the case was even represented by renowned freedom fighter and social worker Dadabhai Nooroji, he adds.
It was during this time that an olive branch was extended to the Bhonsles. Some part of this wealth could be returned if some descendents of the Bhonsle's considered settling in Britain, the court said. The Bhonsle's have currently applied for removal of this condition in their petition.
"Only recently a junior court actually recognized the Bhonsle right and the illegality of de-possessing the erstwhile royal family of its assets, but it has referred its judgment for validation to the Higher Court," Mudhoji says. "Recently" in this case means 25 to 30 years ago.
Mudhoji may have waited for a long time, but says he has a "gut feeling" that it is close to "settlement time".