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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
The Nizam's fabulous jewellery collection has been taken back to the Reserve Bank of India's special vaults in Mumbai for safekeeping.
According to officials, the 173-piece jewellery collection, packed in eight boxes, was taken to Mumbai by a chartered Indian Airlines flight amid tight security on Sunday.
The expenses for shifting the jewellery came to Rs one million.
The jewellery collection, belonging to the erstwhile Nizams (rulers) of Hyderabad, was on display at the famed Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad for over seven months from November 24 last year to June 30 this year.
Over 100,000 visitors saw the jewellery collection, which included the Rs 4 billion Jacob's diamond.
The Museum collected Rs 20 million from the jewellery expo and spent Rs 19 million on security arrangements for the display of the priceless pieces in a special enclosure.
The Nizam's jewellery, acquired for Rs 2.18 billion by the Indian government in 1995, is worth Rs 100 billion according to department of culture officials. The jewellery collection, dating from the early 18th century to early 20th century, in fact, comprises 325 pieces, accounting for pairs and groups of ornaments, not including the 22 unset emeralds and the Jacob's diamond.
The collection comprises turban ornaments, necklaces, earrings, armbands, bracelets, belts, buttons and cuff links, anklets, watch chains and rings -- all jewels once worn by the Nizams of Hyderabad, their wives, children and grandchildren.
The jewellery pieces include rubies and spinels from Myanmar, emeralds from Colombia and pearls from Basra.
The Salar Jung Museum officials exuded confidence that the jewellery would be brought back to Hyderabad for a permanent display in about an year's time.
This follows the assurance given to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu by Union Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan that the jewellery would be permanently exhibited in Hyderabad if foolproof security arrangements are made.
In a letter to the chief minister on June 24, Jagmohan pointed out: "There will be no difficulty in bringing the jewels back to Hyderabad for display as and when the required permanent arrangements are made by Salar Jung Museum authorities with the funds provided by the state government."
The state government has decided to acquire the land adjacent to the Salar Jung Museum to build an exclusive complex for exhibiting the jewellery. An amount of Rs 45 million will be required for making permanent arrangements such as construction of a new building, deployment of security personnel and acquisition of latest electronic gadgetry for security and surveillance of the priceless collection.
Salar Jung Museum director AKVS Reddy exuded confidence that arrangements for permanent exhibition of the jewellery would be in place in an year's time. About 60 security personnel will be required for guarding the collection round-the-clock.
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