Bengaluru, Oct 28: In a very interesting development, a tyrant and an anti-Hindu ruler Tipu Sultan's supposedly 'Priceless' sword, failed to gain traction from the bidders at a Christie's auction, a well-known British auction house founded in 1766.

 

 

 

Tipu's sword was estimated to be worth between £1.5 million (Rs 15 crore) and £2 million (Rs 20 crore). This sword, with a "captivating history", was originally presented to former British Governor-General of India, Charles Cornwallis, after the fall of Seringapatam.

 

The sword (lot 100) had been expected to be bought by a museum in the Middle East and to have gone for a huge amount, reported TOI. Notably, in May this year, Tipu's bedchamber sword was sold for £14 million (Rs 141 crore) at Bonhams' London auction. Major General Baird, who finally laid siege to Tipu's city, received the sword.

 

 

 

 

Apart from the personal sword, a scabbard from Tipu's armoury also failed to attract bidders. One of the two swords from Tipu Sultan's personal armour that Charles, the 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, inherited from his father following Tipu's fall in 1799, was this one.

 

 

 

 

 

The British Queen appointed Lord Cornwallis as governor-general and commander-in-chief of British India in February 1786. In order to restore Cornwallis' family's stately home, which was considerably expensive, his descendants put the two swords up for sale.

 

"Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds" sale witnessed the auction of the second sword placed at lot 101, a gem-set and enamelled sword and scabbard, which did sell for £100,800 and Rs 100 lakh. It had an estimate of £80k to £120k (Rs 80 to Rs 120 lakh).

 

 

 

Two further weapons from Tipu Sultan's forces, as well as an English blade that was captured and placed up for auction at the same sale by another collector, did not sell.

 

Tipu Sultan is projected by the 'historians', as a "secularist and freedom fighter" while the truth is that Tipu Sultan guilty of many barbaric acts waged wars to spread his kingdom and his religion.

 

During Tipu's campaigns to Coorg, he carried out a systematic Hindu genocide. Around 40000 to 50000 Hindus were captured and shipped off to Srirangapatnam, where they were converted to Islam. The men were forcibly circumcised while the women were abducted into harems.

 

 

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