September 20, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 22, 1424

LONDON, Sept 19: A fighting sword used by an 18th century Indian hero and later given to the British general who defeated him was bought at auction in London on Friday for just over 175,000 pounds (251,670 euros, 285,520 dollars).

Tipu Sahib’s “bedchamber sword” was presented to Scottish Imperial general David Baird by the head of the British forces Lord George Harris following the capture of the sultan’s stronghold at Seringapatam in southern India in 1799.

Inscribed on the blade in Arabic with the words “The sword of the Kingdom”, it was sold to an unnamed private collector for 176,438 pounds.

“It was the sort of figure we were hoping for,” auctioneer Pierce Noonan told AFP.

“I believe it’s one of the top five prices ever achieved at auction for a sword,” Noonan said.

Tipu Sahib, who died in the battle, was known as the “Tiger of Mysore” and was considered an enlightened ruler.

His father, Hyder Ali, made himself Muslim ruler of the Mysore region of southern India, and Tipu took over after his death in 1782.

As a result of his defeat at Seringapatam, the British were able to secure control of all of southern India and lay the foundations of the future British Raj. Other items in the sale owned by Baird’s descendants fetched more than 300,000 pounds.—AFP