Article taken from, "The Hindu," Tuesday, September 26, 2000

Prithviraj Chauhan relics transfer sought


By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 25. The Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan Foundation today urged the Government to bring back the mortal remains of the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan from Afghanistan. While on the issue, the Foundation also demanded that the remains of Rao Tula Ram be brought back to India from Kabul.

Addressing a press conference here, the national convenor of the Foundation, Capt. Vikram Singh, said the grave of Prithviraj Chauhan in Afghanistan was being desecrated. He alleged a shoe was kept next to the grave so that people could hit it in a symbolic gesture to avenge the killing of Mohammad Ghori by Prithviraj Chauhan.

Referring to the efforts made by the country soon after Independence to bring back the mortal remains of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, from Rangoon, Capt. Vikram Singh said similar efforts should be made to secure the mortal remains of Prithviraj Chauhan and Rao Tula Ram.

And to whip up a public sentiment for the return of the mortal remains of these sons of the soil, the Foundation has decided to organise a three-day Rashtriya Gaurav Raksha Mahayagya from October 3 at Neemrana where the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan live.

Also, Capt. Vikram Singh used the occasion to draw attention to the condition of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan. ``They are living in abject poverty for several years so much so that the last Maharaja Rajinder Singh sold the Neemrana Fort for mere Rs. 3 lakhs. It was a distress sale and the Government should intervene to acquire the fort -- which has since been converted into a five-star hotel -- and declare it a national monument.''




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