The Mughal-era dupatta was gifted to Fathimunnisa Begum on her wedding by her parents
The children of Fathimunnisa Begum, right, whose parents handed down a chunni studded with precious stones, hand it over to SBH branch manager of Cheriyal in Warangal district on Wednesday.
HYDERABAD: A diamond-studded chunni (dupatta), dating back to the Mughal era, is currently in a safe-deposit locker of a local branch of the State Bank of India in Warangal district for safe keeping, while the family that owns it, is in penury.
The chunni had been inherited by Khaji Abdul Vali and Rafiya Bibi, who used to work as teachers in Mudduru more than 60 years ago. They hailed from Cheriyal mandal in Warangal district. They had gifted the chunni to their only daughter Fathimunnisa Begum on her wedding.
Ms Begum had four sons and a daughter of whom two sons are dead. The family had sold out their house in Cheriyal and shifted to Hyderabad in search of livelihood.
The family, which had preserved the valuable chunni all these years, approached a gemologist in Hyderabad recently who told them that it was invaluable and needed to be preserved. The family then came forward to hand over the chunni to the government, but also asked for financial assistance.
Knowing about this, Warangal district SP directed the Cheriyal police officials to preserve the chunni and it was kept it in the safe deposit locker of SBI, Cheriyal branch. Cheriyal SI Surya Prasad said that they had decided to keep the chunni in the bank locker to protect it from theft.
He added that they had approached the Salar Jung Museum authorities asking them to preserve the chunni there but they were told that it could be done only after examining it thoroughly to ascertain whether it belonged to the Mughal era or not.
Locals have urged the officials to keep the chunni for public display and provide financial assistance to family members of Ms Fathimunnisa Begum.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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