Rising gold prices may have led to despair but a seer’s dream of gold reserves under the ruins of a fort in Unnao has not only perked up a nation but even the media and archaeologists. They are keeping their eyes peeled on the first sign of a metal that has apparently been sounded out and awaiting excavation. What’s more, courtesy the international coverage for all things exotic, the administration is hoping for a rise in tourist footfalls.
The excavation of the ruins began on Friday afternoon after a morning puja by local priests and villagers, who firmly believe in Sadhu Shobhan Sarkar’s prediction of a buried treasure. The man himself remained unavailable though he sent word out through his devotees that he would do a bhoomi pujan before the ASI diggers struck gold, setting off a wild goose chase among assembled media crews. But he kept shifting the venue of the puja, ultimately believed to have conducted it in private, while his devotees completed the rituals before the media.
Sarkar has been relentless in his campaign, having written to the Prime Minister a few weeks ago, saying the late king of Unnao, Raja Ram Bux Singh, had been consistently appearing in his dreams, urging him to dig up the treasure and hand it over to the Government to tide over the current economic crisis. He even said the king’s soul would not rest in peace till digging was started. The puja at the venue was apparently aimed at placating his restless soul.
His devotee, Congress leader Charan Das Mahant, urged the ASI to take up the issue. Preliminary findings and GSI readings, officials say, suggested the presence of “some metal underneath the earth,” following which ASI teams decided to proceed with the excavation. “I believe we will find more treasure than we have space for in Unnao,” said Sant Om ji Maharaj.
Villagers, however, are convinced that the treasure hunt would be successful this time round because the king had made his wish clear. “We have grown up hearing stories of the buried treasure. Many intrepid locals even attempted digs at night over the years but abandoned their mission once misfortune befell them either by way of property loss or a fatal illness,” said shop owner Ratan Pal Singh.
He, along with his neighbours, has put up makeshift food stalls around the site. Ajay Pal Singh, gram pradhan of village Sangrampur, shared, “It is like one big mela with people pouring in from various cities and countries. Villagers are using this as an opportunity to earn some extra money.”
District Magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand is a happy man, despite the challenge of keeping intruders away from the digging site, which has been cordoned off. “The Unnao fort at Duandia Khera village has always been an ASI protected structure and is even listed as a tourism site. But nobody ever comes here except officials on duty. Ever since the excavation has hit the headlines, we have been getting frequent enquiries as to what the fort is all about. Not that everybody is believing the story of the hidden treasure, but many are asking about whether the fort indeed makes for a grand spectacle. This is very near to Kanpur, which is well-connected by Shatabdis and superfast trains. Tourists can even plan a day trip from Kanpur,” he told us.
“Thousands assembled at the site and were hoping to witness wonders on day one itself. But we must remember that the digging process by the ASI is a lengthy one and could extend up to over a month. Diggers have to keep in mind that they do not damage any other historical object lying underground. Who knows the diggings may even uncover an ancient cityIJ” said Anand.
The two hotels in Unnao are booked to capacity and eager villagers are opening their homes to visitors, willing to host them. “People are pouring in not only from neighbouring cities but from distant places as well. The international media also wants to report every detail,” said Anand.
ASI officials have been camping at the site for the last three days and completed marking the area of the potential treasure trove amid tight security. Experts, however, are not too sure about the possibility of gold buried underneath. Sceptics say it was not possible for the king to own 1,000 tonnes of gold as he lorded over a zamindari stretching not more than 25-30 km.
Unmindful of the end result, villagers are already discussing how to put the treasure to use. “If we find the treasure then Raja Bux Singh’s name should be added to Daundia Khera village and an airstrip should be opened in this village,” said Ajay Pal.
So why did Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh hide his goldIJ He fought the British along with Rani laxmi Bai of Jhansi during the first war of independence in 1857 and was overthrown in the process. He went into hiding only to be captured in Varanasi after which he was sent to the gallows.