CONTRIBUTION OF NAWAB'S OF BHOPAL STATE
IN DEVELOPMENT OF SANCHI.
ASHAR
KIDWAI
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Saifia
College, Bhopal,
E-mail-
kidwaiashar@gmail.com, Mob-9713636154
ABSTRACT
I want to throw light on the
contribution of Nawab’s (Rulers) of Bhopal State on conservation of Sanchi. As
we all know Sanchi is a world famous Buddhist archaeological World Heritage
site. The Stupas at Sanchi are amazing specimens of architecture which were
built around the 3rd century BC. British rediscover Sanchi in 1818 and in 1851,
Major Alexander Cunningham first excavated in the reign of Nawab Shahjahan
Begum followed by Sir Jon Marshall in 1912 to 1919 financially sported by Nawab
of Bhopal state.
KEYWORDS: Sanchi. Bhopal State. Buddhism, World Heritage Site, Epigraphy.
INTRODUCTION
As we all
know that Sanchi is a world famous Buddhist archaeological World Heritage site
in centre India. The stupas at Sanchi are amazing specimen of architecture.
Sanchi was build around 3rd century B.C. In this research paper we
are talking about the contributions of Nawabs of Bhopal in the development of
Sanchi. As we know that before independence Bhopal was a free princely state
& second largest Muslim princely state in India (Uddin, 1931-32).
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
The earliest record of Sanchi in Bhopal
state dates back to 1130 A.H. 1718 A.D., when the state's founder, Sardar Dost
Muhammad Khan, defeated a force of 2000 soldiers led by his brother-Sher
Muhammad Khan to take Sansi, another name for Sanchi (Irfan, 1961). Later on, in the reign of H.H Nawab Shahjahan Begum during
the development of second face of Bhopal State Railway British rediscover
Sanchi under the supervisor of Major Alexander Cunningham an army man conducted
the first excavations on the mount of Sanchi, where he discovered numerous
ancient weapons and jewelry (Begum, 1873). As a result, he was gifted with
numerous incredible artifacts from Sanchi. Sariputta and Maha Mogalanna, two of
Lord Buddha's most cherished pupils, had their relic caskets stolen from
stupas. He carried them to England and sold them to the Victoria and Albert
Museum. Major Alexander Cunningham also wrote a book on the excavations at
Sanchi "The Bhilsa Topes - Buddhist Monuments of Central India: Alexander
Cunningham" H.H Nawab Shahjahan Begum translate this book in Urdu
"Tarikh-e-Sanchi" This rare book with 630-odd pages, essentially a
manuscript produced using calligraphy is a rare volume preserved at the
national archives of Indiaregional office Bhopal. After visiting Sanchi in 1905
visit to Bhopal State, Lord Curzon asked H.H Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum to donate
Sanchi to the Indian Archaeology Department (Cunningham, 1854). As a result,
the Bhopal Durbar began the IInd phase of excavation and
conservation work at Sanchi under the direction of Sir John Marshall. At that
time, Sir John Marshall served as the head of India's archaeological
department. The second museum of the princely state of Bhopal was built in
Sanchi under his direction and Sir John Marshall's leadership, where all the
rare artifacts and other items discovered in Sanchi were kept. Sir John Marshall
had offered to take the antiquities from Sanchi to England in 1912, but H.H
Nawab Sultan Jahan declined. The princely state of Bhopal paid for the
construction of this museum.
Sir John Marshall also dedicated his books on Sanchi to H.H Nawab
Sultan Jahan Begum (Gupta, 2013). Colonel C.E. Luord, the political agent for
Bhopal at the time, received a letter from The Bhopal Durbar was informed by
Nawabzada Hamidullah Khan about the relics, caskets, and other items that Major
Alexander Curmirigham had taken from Sanchi and given to the British Museum. As
a result, the claim on the priceless items took precedence, and another case on
the same subject was filed in the Viceroy's office. Following World War II, the
Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and the British Buddhist Society both made
claims on these artifacts.
In 1946, the Mahabodhi association and the Nawab of Bhopal finally
came to an arrangement in which it was determined that the relics would be
finally housed at a recently built vihara in Sanchi. On December 27, 1947,
following this arrangement, H.H. Nawab Hamidullah Khan of the Bhopal State lay
the cornerstone for a brand-new vihara in Sanchi called Chetiyagiri Vihar.
Under the direction of H.H. Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the architects of the
princely state of Bhopal built and created the vihara. In a spectacular and
appropriate ceremony on November 30, 1952, Buddhist leaders from Bhutan,
Cambodia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and many other countries participated H.H Nawab
Sultan Jahan Begum and H.H Nawab Hamidullah Khan show their key interest in
development of Sanchi. From 1920 onwards Sanchi is set as one of the famous
truest destination of India. According to the reports of Political Department
Bhopal state preserve at National Archives of India regional office Bhopal
following events related to Sanchi are as fallow In the year 1921 - H.E Prince Edward, Prince
of Wales visit Sanchi. In the year 1923
- Student of Deccan College visit Sanchi for Research. In the year 1924-1925 - The Royal Highnesses
Prince and Princes Arthur duke of Connaught visit Sanchi. Major Pilking British
Indian Army Officer Visit Sanchi. In the year 1926 - His. Majesties the King
Leopold 111 and Queen Astrid of Belgium Visit Sanchi. The Director General of
Archaeology survey of India visit Sanchi. In the year 1929 - During the visit
to Bhopal state Mahatma Gandhi Visit Sanchi. In the year 1944 - H.H The
Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda State Visit Sanchi.
CONCLUSION
This represent the Persian language's vast
cultural heritage, it might be said. The preservation and restoration of
epigraphs in Bhopal city should always come first, even before the risk of
demolition is even discussed, because once they are gone, they can never be
brought back to their original form. A significant portion of this heritage is
severely decayed. I have taken the
opportunity to transfer knowledge in the conservation of these Bhopal state
eras on a small scale. These
are my findings based on documents I discovered at the National Archives of
India's regional office in Bhopal, which demonstrate the Nawab's of Bhopal's
consistent prioritization of Sanchi.
Fig.1-
Old Photo of Sanchi Stupa from Mount of Sanchi.
( Photo
Courtesy: National Archive of India Regional Office Bhopal.)
Fig.2- Lord Curzon and Lady Curzon Visit to Bhopal on 28 November 1911.
( Photo
Courtesy: Bhopai Tales Face Book Page.)
Fig.3- H.H Nawab Hamidullah Khan lays foundation stone at Sanchi on December
27, 1947.
( Photo
Courtesy: https://governor.mp.gov.in/)
Fig. 4. Epigraph at Cetiygiri Vihara
at Sanchi.
Fig. 5- Cetiygiri Vihara at Sanchi
( Photo Courtesy: Shri Ptandit Uprndra Narayan Pahalwan.)
REFERANCES
1.
Uddin, B. (1931-32). Bhopal
State Administrative Report, Bombay, 3-4.
2.
Irfan, M. (1961).
Yadgar-e-Bhopal (Urdu). Bhopal: Publisher. (Include page number if specific
page is referenced).
3.
Begum, S. N. (1873).
Taj-ul-Iqbal (Urdu). Kanpur: Publisher. (Include page range if specific pages
are referenced).
4.
Cunningham, A., Sir. (1854).
The Bhilsa Topes; Buddhist Monuments of Central India. London: Publisher.
(Include "Preface" if referring to the preface specifically).
5.
Gupta, T. (2013). The
Production and Reproduction of a Monument: The Many Lives of The Sanchi Stupa.
In The British Association of South Asian Studies, London.
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Bhopal State. (1921).
Political Department Records of the Year. National Archive of India Regional
Office Bhopal.
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Bhopal State. (1923).
Political Department Records of the Year. National Archive of India Regional
Office Bhopal.
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Bhopal State. (1924).
Political Department Records of the Year. National Archive of India Regional
Office Bhopal.
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Department Records of the Year. National Archive of India Regional Office
Bhopal.
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