Shame not in an Indian Museum. Thanks for sharing.

One of the earliest Mughal mint for minting coins is at Fatehpur Sikri, just as one approaches Diwan-i-Am. It is on the right hand side, with shallow corbelled domes. It was the first building to be constructed at Fatehpur Sikri.

@RBSI: :)) Knowledge is for sharing.

@Satyakam Sudershan: :)) The same response to RBSI as above holds good even now.

The Allah-o-Akbar inscription on the coin is pretty ironic with Akbar's portrait on it.

so rich so beautiful!!!!

Re: " Shame not in an Indian Museum." ... A fair point ~ but given the circumstances (both historical and political) ~ the alternative argument is that you might not be able to see any or all of " it " at all.... Hopefully , cross-cultural exchanges of the type that are mentioned in these articles (above/ below) from museum to museum (when India has museums that are fit for purpose ~ which is not the case now) will increase until there is no argument about the specific origin of artifacts that " belong " to long dead political entities or institutions.... Ps. Can we have some of the fantastic architecture that we left in your country, and that you have left to go to rack and ruin , back please... we might look after it a little bit more carefully...

@Haroon Riaz: Not ironic at all, Haroon. Akbar was a megalomaniac. He started the new religion taking the Godhood himself. Look at the Diwan-i-khas the single piller hall in Sikri, the inscription on the lintel of his Khwabgah (bedchamber) at Sikri and you would know that he was a megalomaniac.

@Julian Craig: Of course you would want your architecture back, which was inspired by the Maurayan, Hindu and Greek architecture anyway. Dalhousie tried to cart away the Taj Mahal to sell the marble on the banks of Thames, when he was the Governer General here, but couldn't as his Indian accountant pointed out to him that the cost of dismantling and transporting the Taj Mahal would be more than what he would be able to recover by selling the marble at Thames. Coming from Nation of shopkeepers, he understood and dropped the idea. Besides what all will you return and if you do, your museums would be empty. Elgin marbles, Kohinoor, collections at Victoria & Albert Museum, Shah Nama, The assyrian collection in British Museum, the greek artifacts also there. The list would be endless, and I suspect you know this too. If you can't return to Greece, Iraq, India, China etc. best not to ask for more.

' @ ' Mr Trivedi ... tiresome twaddle ( 'and I suspect that you know this too ')...

Pulin Trivedi -- well said.

@Julian Craig: Read the comment above please, for response to your tiresome twaddle. Why do you always say things about India that raises any Indian's hackles. So can I say things about General Dyer and Lord Dalhousie, Robert Clive etc. & how the British thought that sun never set on the British empire - and yet they were thrown out from everywhere, USA in West and India in East.

... Mr Trivedi ~ I have no interest in raising your 'hackles' ~ I simply disagree with your very biased remarks. I have read your previous comment and , in my opinion, it contains a great deal of factual inexactitude ~ The tale that you relate regarding the Taj Mahal is a myth (and has been previously debunked at this very site, very eloquently I recall by one of your own countrymen).... many of the items that have been preserved in Western museums (regardless of how they were acquired, which in the vast majority of cases was entirely legally, although not always, I grant you) would otherwise have been lost forever... in due course, it is to be hoped that some may return from whence they came... ... by the way, you can say what you like about Robert Clive, the man was an odorous drug-addict and a manic depressive, my hackles shall not be raised, much to your disappointment I'm quite sure...

Neil MacGregor, Director of The British Museum, answers a reporter who poses the same question to him... Reporter: "The Elgin Marbles - classical Greek sculptures in the British Museum removed from the Acropolis of Athens by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803 - have remained in contention with Greece demanding the sculptures back. The British Museum has treasures from all over the world, including India. How do you deal with demands for return of treasures?" Neil MacGregor: "These were acquired in a different set of circumstances and in many cases would have been totally lost to the world had they not been preserved by the British Museum. Housed in the museum, they have become accessible to visitors from all over the world. We have offered to loan these sculptures to Greece for an exhibition but they refused saying they would either take it back as owners or not at all."

RBSI shouldn't you be "moderating" here?

... The question of whether or not the ' Elgin Marbles' should or should not be returned from London to Athens is probably the best known example of this trend ( or demand, although the debate is an entirely amicable one) of cultural artifacts that have been acquired in the past from one country and are now preserved in and retained by another , being considered for a potential return. This issue has been rumbling on for decades and is still discussed with a certain degree of animation today. The matter is complicated in this instance because the 'Marbles' were removed from Athens to London in the early 19th century in an entirely legal fashion and with the permission of the Greek government of that time (how much pressure was applied upon them by the British is a moot point, and the absolute truth of exactly to what extent permission had been granted beforehand seems rather tenuous to say the least). The Wikipedia link (below)that refers to the 'Elgin Marbles' is really quite informative and insightful on the subject, especially section : ' 6 Relocation debate 6.1 Rationale for returning to Athens, 6.2 Rationale for retaining in London', which presents the pro and anti positions, and the reasoning behind each, in a fair and straight forward fashion ~ but to my mind ~ perhaps the most revealing piece of information in the article (and one that indicates, perhaps, the pattern of future events) is contained within the following passage: " Despite the British Museum's position on its ownership of the marbles, in 1998, a poll carried out by Ipsos MORI asking "If there were a referendum on whether or not the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece, how would you vote?" returned these values from the general adult [ British ] population: 40% in favour of returning the marbles to Greece 15% in favour of keeping them at the British Museum 18% would not vote 27% had no opinion" Although, as far as I am aware, there are no plans to return the Marbles (as yet) this is aninteresting result I'm sure that you would agree ~ with a clear majority of Britons favouring the return of the Marbles ~ and one that might have longer term implications for countries like India at some stage in the future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Marbles

Humans are adept at finding arguments and logics which suit their position. All items were of course acquired by them 'legally' but then who formed the rules? British of course. How convenient? Such fun.

@Julian Craig: "....your very biased remarks." only reflects your opinion, which may, just maybe biased.

Rare Book Society of India: Thank you RBSI. I have no intention of getting acrimonius with Julian or anybody else. It is an interesting discovery that in this day and age, people hold views that seem totally out of present context and are acutally proud of stealing treasures from other countries. Process of my education is never going to be complete, as I learn something new everyday.

Satyakam Sudershan: You are well aware of my opinion regarding India's treasures in foreign museums. I have repeatedly mentioned that these treasures were taken out of India under different historical circumstances and that I feel gratified to see them so well preserved and displayed in these museums. Much as I would like our treasures to be returned back...I would want my nation and its people to have more respect towards their heritage and the Govt. to provide better funding and facilities to accord the same protection and respect, they are given in these foreign museums. It is a crying shame to see the state of our priceless treasures decaying right in front of our eyes due to abject apathy by the people and the authorities themselves. Till then...I would honestly want them to stay wherever they are now for all of us to take delight in seeing them. In the future, its a matter of political equations and realities, if different nations renegotiate to return each other's heritage treasures. Pulin Trivedi and Julian Craig are knowledgeable gentlemen and valuable contributors on RBSI...who are in the midst of rather contentious discussion. They are presenting two sides of an 'ever touchy' argument...which, in my opinion, only helps us broaden our perspectives and move beyond pointless rage and misdirected anger...that seems overwhelm us whenever such a topic arises.

Pulin Trivedi: I have clearly stated my opinion in my comment above. But if you happen to carefully read Julian Craig's last comment on the Elgin Marbles and the Poll results therein...he is being quite fair in presenting the current status and trend regarding this issue. He even states: "...Although, as far as I am aware, there are no plans to return the Marbles (as yet) this is aninteresting result I'm sure that you would agree ~ with a clear majority of Britons favouring the return of the Marbles ~ and one that might have longer term implications for countries like India at some stage in the future." I would take 'this hopeful thought' from your discussion.

RBSI: My comment was not on the content, but the tone, of a particular member poster which was certainly quite nasty. I find it intriguing that many other members have been spoken to quite harshly for far less.

We all know by now...that every kind of provocation would elicit a similar response. Many a time...it might be unintended by either of them. As a Moderator, its entirely possible that I have erred in the past and might do so again in future. Occupational hazard, I guess. I only request the members to retain the genial ambience of RBSI...

Mr Trivedi ~ I concur with you wholeheartedly when you say that: " Humans [and their governments and ruling elites] are adept at finding arguments and logics which suit their position." ... Nowhere, I'm afraid to say, can one observe this phenomena more clearly than in contemporary India, where the presentation of historical 'propaganda' as fact has been developed into an art form.... To most of us who live in the West but take an interest in, and often visit, India this is not a matter for debate, it is not an example of 'bias' , it is a simple fact based on observation.... most Europeans who hold opinions on India's past will not have their position on certain matters changed by your modern indignation or in the case of most Brits, by the constant smearing of our national character. One should keep this in mind when posting comments at the RBSI, which has a large international following ~ I think it is as much as a third of the membership ~ and remember that one is not only 'preaching to the converted'. I have nothing else to add to this particular debate, having made my position on the acquisition of cultural artifacts from various parts of the sub-continent ( often from political entities/ royal familes that no longer exist, and so to whom should they be returned?) clear above. It is a rather difficult debate to find a resolution for in any event, as both sides of the argument have very valid grounds for stating their particular case. Regards etc.

@Julian Craig: I am glad we agree somewhere. India, USA, Middle East, even UK to certain extent are like what you said. As far as smearing is concerned, lets agree to not smear & step on each other's corns. As I said earlier, nobody likes to be spoken at and it is also a fact that it is a double edged sword. Let us agree to disagree where we cannot agree, in a civilized manner.

Thank you gentlemen! It is necessary for us to bear in mind that that close to 3000 members on RBSI are from USA and UK alone... and many of them are non-Indians. I am sure none of us intend to offend any nationality here and therefore a lot of tact and grace is needed when we are voicing our opinions about contentious issues.

Mr Trivedi ~ At no stage in the exchange above have you stepped on ' my corns' (an interesting use of the vernacular !), nor did I have any intention of stepping on yours ( in Britain 'twaddle' is a harmless word that carries no offensive connotation).... The RBSI is a 'broad church', and all manner of nationalities and all manner of opinions can be found within it, that is part of its unique charm. RBSI ~ I recall that, on a previous occasion, some months ago, you published here on the site a detailed breakdown of the global distribution of the RBSI membership. I seem to remember that the largest number of followers, outside of India, were based in the United States.... Do you still have that data to hand ? As this group seems to grow day by day, the figures might have changed since ?

RBSI's country-wise membership profile stands like this today: Countries: 7,903 - India 1,824 - United States 665 - United Kingdom 223 - Pakistan 154 - Canada 131 - United Arab Emirates 113 - Singapore 108 - Australia 2179 - 12 Other Countries

... An interesting global spread ~ the power of the internet ... Most of the countries listed above do, of course, have large expatriate Indian communities (eg. in Britain 5.5% of the population are of Indian or Pakistani ethnic extraction) ~ but ~ I imagine that the bulk of these ' foreign ' members are just India ' enthusiasts ' of all stripes and denominations ! ...

Julian Craig: Your observation is right!...India 'enthusiasts' they all are! I have also observed that the RBSI membership consists of a large number of writers, journalists, artists, professionals, students, history-buffs and a 'flattering' number of them from IIT's!!...India's premier Science Institute. We must be doing something right here! : )

@julian Craig,,,,,the streets of London are paved with gold from India...now you have our heritage in your museums and as a sinking economy you are using that to earn some money from tourists from your old colonies.. who have no choice but come to your museums and pay in pounds to see what originally belonged to us...this is what happens when an empire is finished.. the survivors becomes desperate to make living by showcasing the booty and talking about the great value attached to it...enjoy sir...we are the people who forgive.. we will pay to see those objects...no problem...you are the storekeepers of our heritage...and you do your job well...as honestly as any Englishman can do...take care...