The last Nizam’s lunch-box is missing, and it is bad news for the Nizam’s Museum at Purani Haveli here. The stolen box was five-tier, made of gold, and antique — hence invaluable. The thieves even got away with a tea-cup, saucer, and teaspoon of ‘pure’ gold that were placed close to the tiffin box on Sunday night.
What’s more, the box was adorned with diamonds, and is believed to be very expensive. The stolen booty is said to weigh around three kg. They were presented to Mir Osman Ali Khan, Bayafandi Asaf Jah VII, on the occasion of the silver jubilee of his rule in 1937. Though he completed 25 years of his rule in 1936, it was celebrated in 1937.
The seventh and the last Nizam himself registered these articles in 1957 with an intention to display them for general public.
The Mir Chowk police said the incident must have taken place between 5 p.m on Sunday and 9 a.m. on Monday, when the Nizam Museum, popularly known as Purani Haveli, was closed. Police said the culprits gained entry to the hall on the first floor of the 19th century building through ventilators, which are almost 15 feet to 18 feet of height.
The building was constructed by Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam, as an extension of Masarat Mahal, an 18th century structure.Silver Jubilee Pavilion Trust Secretary Rafath Hussain lodged a complaint with the police, stating that the gold objects were ‘missing’ from the museum. The police registered a case and teams were formed to nab the culprits. “We suspect the involvement of more than two persons,” the police said, adding that the theft was not recorded by the surveillance cameras as the thieves had tinkered with them. The museum was opened to public on February 18, 2000, by the trust headed by Prince Muffakham Jah, the younger grandson of the last Nizam, who currently stays in London. The museum showcases the fascinating collection of gifts that the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, received on his silver jubilee celebrations.
The museum also features a 240-foot-long wardrobe of Nizam VI, a 120-year-old manually operated wooden lift lock and over 200-year-old proclamation drums outside the structure, which is a captivating combination of 18th century European facades and traditional Indian courtyards. There are over 1,000 objects in the museum, of which only over 400 are showcased to the general public.
