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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Survival / Success
- Subject: Ethics / Morality
- Published: 04/17/2021
I was wandering on a hillock by the side of a sea at a small town by name “ Ratnagiri” on the West coast of India. Just enjoying the sea view standing on the green hillock, looking all round. I saw an old building, appearing to be an abandoned home of some one. The house was fenced with few staff seen working there. I was just curious, may be it is something else besides old residence. Approaching the staff on duty, I found this building in fact is now a museum under archaeological survey of Govt. of India. I was told to go upstairs on the first floor of this 2 story building and have a look at the museum. I really love going to the museums and enjoy whatever are the exhibits. Going round the exhibits [ only old framed black & white pictures , few of them with torn/folded decayed paper- pieces some how put together under the photo frame] , my inquisitiveness deepened about the whole matter. Curiously I was engrossed also in reading the descriptions under each picture, besides watching those old black & white pictures. As I was slowly stepping forward , watching those picture, I was feeling sensations of surprise, wondering how could all that be possible even with doubt creeping in my mind whether what all text is available with those pictures, could be true or just a fiction. Any how, after completing watching all the exhibits placed in that hall, I contacted the Head of that Museum and got educated in detail about this building and the museum. It was a wonderful explanation, I received from the Officer. Just to clear my doubt, I categorically inquired with the Officer, whether all this what he explained to me is true ?? The Officer with a smile gave me few references and asked me that I must go through these references, to get convinced about this entire matter to be an authentic history. Thanking the Officer , I took his leave and returned.
The Officer’s explanation & what I learnt through the references, the Officer had given me, are narrated below;
Way back, during middle of the 19th Century, there was the king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Myanmar ( Erstwhile Burma). His name was “ Thibaw Min “ [ Popularly known as Thibaw] . He was the last King of this dynasty, who ruled Burma from 1.10.1878 till 31.11.1885. He was very popular among his subject , very caring , brave, stubborn fighter with no compromise of any kind with the British Regime in Burma, that time. British Empire made two unsuccessful efforts to defeat Thibaw’s army, but all in vain for them. British Rule could not digest these 2 defeats and on the third occasion , after a fierce Anglo-Burmese battle, King Thibaw was over powered by the British Forces and he was deposed on 30.11.85. Recognizing the might of deposed King Thibaw and his relations with his subject very well , Britisg Regime was not at all comfortable to let King Thibaw remain any where in Burma. As a strategic move British Empire, decided to put Thibaw in exile away from the country Burma. Thibaw with all his family members were sailed out of Burma and first brought to southern shore of India, Madras [ Now Chennai ]. This being a large commercial city of India, was not found a suitable exile destination for Thibaw & his family, they were further shifted to reach a small fishing village “ Ratnagiri” at West Coast of India, in the year 1886. They were given a decent Palace with all comforts with a compensation package to lead their lives at this unknown fishing village.
Thibaw, though in an exile in a different land , with his virtues, slowly won the hearts of the local inhabitants to the extent, that he was considered as King of the local people. He commanded same love , affection and respect from Indian local people , as in his own country. The family slowly perished , after the demise of the King Thibaw on 19.12.1916. His palatial “ Home away from Home” is now converted into a museum, in commemoration of the sovereignty of such noble philanthropic Royal King .
At this juncture, it will be quite appropriate to introduce the city Rastnagiri now an important business centre, famous for World famous Alphonso mangoes , best quality Cashew Nuts and Sea Products. Also Ratnagiri is the birth place of Great Indian Freedom Fighter “ Lokmanya Tilak ”.
Best Wishes
Hem Bhandari
Home away from Home(Hem Bhandari)
I was wandering on a hillock by the side of a sea at a small town by name “ Ratnagiri” on the West coast of India. Just enjoying the sea view standing on the green hillock, looking all round. I saw an old building, appearing to be an abandoned home of some one. The house was fenced with few staff seen working there. I was just curious, may be it is something else besides old residence. Approaching the staff on duty, I found this building in fact is now a museum under archaeological survey of Govt. of India. I was told to go upstairs on the first floor of this 2 story building and have a look at the museum. I really love going to the museums and enjoy whatever are the exhibits. Going round the exhibits [ only old framed black & white pictures , few of them with torn/folded decayed paper- pieces some how put together under the photo frame] , my inquisitiveness deepened about the whole matter. Curiously I was engrossed also in reading the descriptions under each picture, besides watching those old black & white pictures. As I was slowly stepping forward , watching those picture, I was feeling sensations of surprise, wondering how could all that be possible even with doubt creeping in my mind whether what all text is available with those pictures, could be true or just a fiction. Any how, after completing watching all the exhibits placed in that hall, I contacted the Head of that Museum and got educated in detail about this building and the museum. It was a wonderful explanation, I received from the Officer. Just to clear my doubt, I categorically inquired with the Officer, whether all this what he explained to me is true ?? The Officer with a smile gave me few references and asked me that I must go through these references, to get convinced about this entire matter to be an authentic history. Thanking the Officer , I took his leave and returned.
The Officer’s explanation & what I learnt through the references, the Officer had given me, are narrated below;
Way back, during middle of the 19th Century, there was the king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Myanmar ( Erstwhile Burma). His name was “ Thibaw Min “ [ Popularly known as Thibaw] . He was the last King of this dynasty, who ruled Burma from 1.10.1878 till 31.11.1885. He was very popular among his subject , very caring , brave, stubborn fighter with no compromise of any kind with the British Regime in Burma, that time. British Empire made two unsuccessful efforts to defeat Thibaw’s army, but all in vain for them. British Rule could not digest these 2 defeats and on the third occasion , after a fierce Anglo-Burmese battle, King Thibaw was over powered by the British Forces and he was deposed on 30.11.85. Recognizing the might of deposed King Thibaw and his relations with his subject very well , Britisg Regime was not at all comfortable to let King Thibaw remain any where in Burma. As a strategic move British Empire, decided to put Thibaw in exile away from the country Burma. Thibaw with all his family members were sailed out of Burma and first brought to southern shore of India, Madras [ Now Chennai ]. This being a large commercial city of India, was not found a suitable exile destination for Thibaw & his family, they were further shifted to reach a small fishing village “ Ratnagiri” at West Coast of India, in the year 1886. They were given a decent Palace with all comforts with a compensation package to lead their lives at this unknown fishing village.
Thibaw, though in an exile in a different land , with his virtues, slowly won the hearts of the local inhabitants to the extent, that he was considered as King of the local people. He commanded same love , affection and respect from Indian local people , as in his own country. The family slowly perished , after the demise of the King Thibaw on 19.12.1916. His palatial “ Home away from Home” is now converted into a museum, in commemoration of the sovereignty of such noble philanthropic Royal King .
At this juncture, it will be quite appropriate to introduce the city Rastnagiri now an important business centre, famous for World famous Alphonso mangoes , best quality Cashew Nuts and Sea Products. Also Ratnagiri is the birth place of Great Indian Freedom Fighter “ Lokmanya Tilak ”.
Best Wishes
Hem Bhandari
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