 "Undisclosed buyer buys Tipu Sultan's gold ring for 145,000 pounds in auction")
London: A unique golden ring belonging toMysore’s 18th Century legendary ruler Tipu Sultan has beensold for a whopping 145,000 pounds at an auction here, 10times more than its estimated price.
Auction house Christie’s said the 41.2 gramme ring wassold to an undisclosed bidder at the auction in central Londonamid criticism from heritage groups.
The jewelled ring, inscribed with the name of Hindu GodRam in raised Devanagri script sold for 145,000 pounds, 10times more than its estimated price, _BBC News_reported.
[caption id=“attachment_85694” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Representational image of Tipu Sultan. Image courtesy Christie’s[/caption]
The ring was allegedly taken from the slain body of TipuSultan at the end of the 1799 Srirangappattinam battle againstthe British East India Company’s forces.
“It is surprising that a ring bearing the name of a HinduGod would have been worn by the great Muslim warrior,” theauction listing noted.
Earlier this month, Professor S Settar from India’sNational Institute of Advanced Studies had warned that thering might be hidden from public view if it was sold to aprivate bidder, the report said.
Settar urged the Indian government to “make use of allavailable avenues, legal and diplomatic, to recover the ring”.
He even suggested that Indian philanthropists should havebeen encouraged to purchase the ring on behalf of the country.
Another group called Tipu Sultan United Front also urgedthe government to prevent the ring from being sold.The ring was previously listed for sale by Christie’s twoyears ago but was then withdrawn.
Known as the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan ruled the statefor 17 years after succeeding his father, Hyder Ali.
PTI