It is reported from London today that a ring of Tipu Sultan with an inscription ‘Ram’ has been auctioned for Rs. 1.42 crore. The name of the person who bid for the ring is unknown. The bid amount was ten times more than the auction amount. The inscription ‘Ram’ is written in Devanagari.

The ring was in the finger of Tipu Sultan when he was killed in the fight at srirangapatnam with the british in 1799. It was taken from his finger by Arthur Wellesley, the Commander of the British Regiment. Later it was in the custody of the his nephew Fitzroy Somerset and then his inheritors. It is now bid for Rs. 1.42 crores.

It is well known that innumerable treasures like this have been looted by the British army, officers and even British civilians from India. They captured many kingdoms and treasures were taken to Britain. In the museums in Britain, one can see thousands of such articles and valuables looted by the British. Much more will be in the residences of lords and noblemen who looted them from India.

The rulers of independent India should have demanded return of these valuable and article of historical importance. But they did nothing of that sort. Now that a new government is going to be formed, it is their responsibility to get all these back to its original country. Will they do it?