Ancient Bidar Map Found in London

<![CDATA[An atlas containing a map of Bidar has been found in the India Office Library in London. The ancient map was prepared by Colonel Jean Baptiste Gentil, a French Officer who was the military adviser for the Nawab of Awadh Shuja-ud-Daula. The map shows Bidar (famous for being the capital of the Bahamani Kingdom) as a great educational centre of major importance. Rehman Patel, a historian and painter, has reproduced the map in order to preserve the information stored in the artefact as well as shed light on the history and cultural heritage of Bidar. Experts argue that the State Government in India should pressurize the Union Government into taking the necessary steps to return the map to India. Dr. Patel explains that Colonel Gentil used local artists to produce a series of illustrations depicting the social and political history of India. These illustrations were included on either side of the map. They reveal the representatives of the various Sufi orders as well as the thick forests and wild animals. The drawings also include various wares that were designed and created in Bidar, as well as the local Bidri craftsmen themselves. An artisan is portrayed on the bottom left of the document creating a beautiful image on the side of a huqqa, while his parrot and wife look on. The illustrations depicting the types of wares produced are located on the bottom right. The wares include spittoons, wash basins, boxes, bell shaped huqqas and globular huqqas on stands. The illustrations have been further reinforced by a caption which means "Bider workshop for inlaying in gold and silver". According to Dr. Patel, the earliest reference to Bidriware can be found in the Chahar Gulshan, which dates back to the year 1759 AD. This compilation includes statistical accounts based on evidence from an earlier compilation created in the year 1720 AD. The Second Book of the Chahar Gulshan offers details about the five administrative divisions of Deccon, one of which was Bidar. Bidar is also showcased in an atlas created under the rule of Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh, in the city of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, in 1770 AD. At this time, Bidar was controlled by Muhammad Gauth Saif-ud-Daula. After his early death, his brother Saif Jang Najm-ud-Daula Bahadur was appointed as the governor. Inquires have been made in Bidar about the atlas. They reveal that the local administration doesn't have any copies of the atlas produced by Col. Gentil, or the associated manuscript.

Related Books

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The History of India; The Hindú and Mahometan Periods
With Notes and Additions By E. B. Cowell by Mountstuart Elphinstone

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