Bhopal: The region where the sun never set was once a source of pride for the British Empire. Now British borrowed Rs 35,000. However, a lost piece of paper in the sleepy Madhya Pradesh town of Sehore indicates that even the powerful required a morning loan from a prosperous local trader.
The British government allegedly borrowed Rs 35,000 from Seth Jummalal Ruthia, one of the richest and most powerful businessmen in Sehore and the Bhopal princely state, in 1917, when the globe was engulfed in war and imperial administration was overburdened. That was almost 109 years ago. By the standards of the time, the sum was vast, sufficient to shape estates, change fortunes, and exert influence in colonial and royal circles.
The loan itself is not what makes the story remarkable; rather, it’s what happened after—or rather, what didn’t. The Ruthia family claims that the money was never paid back.
Now, over a century later, Vivek Ruthia, the grandson of Seth Jummalal, claims he is getting ready to serve the British government with a court notice in an attempt to recoup what he describes as a “historic and unpaid sovereign debt.”
Speaking about the discovery, Vivek Ruthia says that following the death of his father, the family recently discovered documentary evidence, such as correspondence and certifications amid ancient records and a family will. “My latae grandpa, Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia, gave the British government a loan of Rs 35,000 in 1917. To this day, that sum has not been reimbursed,” he stated.
He claims that the documents indicate the loan was taken out as a war loan to simplify administrative management in the princely state of Bhopal during British occupation.
In 1937, almost two decades after the loan was granted, Seth Jummalal Ruthia passed away. According to the family, the issue has not been resolved and has progressively faded into the background until now.
Although the amount of Rs 35,000 in 1917 would seem small by today’s standards, Vivek Ruthia contends that it would be worth crores now.
“If you calculate the amount based on the gold price of 1917 and compare it to today’s rate, the figure becomes significantly higher,” according to him. To put it another way, something that might have been used to fund wartime administration could today be quite valuable.
According to reports, the family is getting ready to utilize international legal principles, claiming that sovereign governments are theoretically required to pay back debts that have already been committed. Although these situations are uncommon and complicated, legal experts believe that historical assertions supported by documentary evidence can spark odd legal discussions, particularly when they concern transactions between private citizens and colonial officials prior to independence.
The Ruthia family was one of the most well-known and wealthy in the princely realms of Bhopal and Sehore prior to independence. They supposedly had a great deal of land and property and were well-known for their financial prowess and administrative clout. It is still believed that between 20 and 30 percent of Sehore’s towns are located on land that was formerly owned by the Ruthias.
The family is still engaged in real estate, hospitality, and agriculture, and they have properties in Sehore, Indore, and Bhopal. However, they are also involved in property disputes and issues regarding legacy rents set at nominal sums decades ago, just like many other old landed families.
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