Shri Pamarty Venkataramana (PVR) is an eminent international lawyer based at the Supreme Court of India. He is also a noted author, speaker, columnist and a thinker. He is known for his eloquent arguments advanced in courts and unique interpretation of the Laws.
PVR (as popularly known), has been rendering memorable services to the nation irrespective of his political personages and age. He is credited to have got a foreign spy declared as a persona non-grata through a civil court-trial apart from the most famous Nizam jewellery case and related matters.
Khushboo Agrahari interviewed this legend of new India.
[ Here are the excerpts ]
—————————————————————
1. What is so different about the fabled Nizam jewellery that there was such a long battle in different courts over the years?
PVR : It is definitely a most fabulous collection of rare, precious and the most unique antique jewellery you can ever find on the planet since Stone Age.
2. Why was there a court battle ?
PVR : History is replete with tales of wars for possessing prized items , beautiful people, and blessed lands . We all know jewellery does not grow on trees or spring up from seeds ! Every precious piece of jewellery in the world has a history, is full of geography and remains as an evidence of physics. Metaphysics lends a wholly different perspective to the whole saga of such unique marvels of Mother Nature.
This rarest of rare collections of the world excessively attracted many powerful and wealthy folks. Each one of them wished to possess it. But, to whom does this belong to and upon whom does the rightful ownership vest in – this was the bone of contention.
3. What actually transpired between the last Nizam and the Government of India ?
PVR : For the purpose of it, there is a need to know some historical facts:
a) Sardar Vallabhai Patel was instrumental in preventing the carving of a Central Pakistan in erstwhile Princely State of Hyderabad Deccan.
b) Nizam was asked to submit a list of his immovable properties which was scrutinised by the Govt. of India & the approved list comprising of 50- pages, called the Blue Book came into being.
c) Nizam was allowed to form distinct Trusts in regard to safeguarding personal interests of his declared wives, sons, daughter, grandchildren & assets. Life-interest was secured for himself as well as his legal-heirs.
d) The Govt. of India was a signatory to these private trust-deeds & hence, the Parliament had to approve this Act of Govt. of India.
e). The State passed the Nizam Trust Deeds (Validation) Act , 1950 which states that all provisions contained in these Deeds shall have the “force of law”.
f). The Finance Secretary of the Govt.of India automatically became the ex-officio chairman of these Trusts.
4. So, all was smooth between the last Nizam and the Indian Government?
PVR : No. Osman Ali Khan Bahadur changed colours like a chameleon!
When about 45-trucks of gold-bricks were transported by him via Bombay to Pakistan, Sardar Patel ordered “Operation Polo” for the liberation of Deccan Hyderabad (Maj. Gen. J. N. Chaudhury was successful in defeating the sinister designs of Nizam & his band of Razakars, a Commie-Muslim Force). This force was the ISIS of that era and had indulged in large-scale killings of Hindu peasants and families. A genocide that infuriated Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
5. What happened after Nizam surrendered to the Indian government?
PVR : Post-merger developments are noteworthy to grasp the significance of this fabled collection of Jewellery. The last Nizam was the world’s wealthiest man. Richer than the Queen of England! By virtue of his collection of diamonds, pearls, emeralds, rubies, jade and many other items including golden cots, bathtubs, slippers studded with diamonds. And, so on and so forth. Thus, it was all of phenomenal value.
6. Why the tussle for ownership?
PVR : Since then, several rounds of intra-family litigation, as well as those against the Govt. of India, have been waged by real legal-heirs as well as a plethora of illegitimate claims.
7. Is it right that this particular matter has seen several MPs, MLAs and a battery of lawyers contesting ownership? Why ?
PVR : Indeed so! Trustees have been found guilty of breach of trust, acting in a cavalier fashion and have been, time and again, castigated by all courts of law, including by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Many questions were raised by MPs and MLAs in both the Houses of Parliament and in the State Legislative Assembly.
8. Is it true that after you stepped in to take over the matter, this huge collection took shape of being a ‘national wealth’?
PVR : Yes. Many rounds of court battles were fought by luminaries across the decades of the 50s, 60s, 70s,80s, 90s and in the new millennium. Covering several aspects, such as:
a) The Jewellery Trust case gained more prominence when the Govt. of India ‘purchased’ a collection from the Trust, as per arbitration award approved by the Apex Court and passed by the Parliament of India, in 1994. The Government of India whopping amount to the Trust beneficiaries in the honour of Apex Court and the Act of Parliament.
b) All wealth of the erstwhile Nizam vested in the Government of India after his secession and subsequent to the Standstill Agreement .
c) Landmark judgment cancelling a so-called ‘certificate of succession’ issued by Nizam to his eldest grandson ( AIR 1969, AP 423 ) declared that after becoming a part of the Republic of India, he too was like any other ordinary citizen of this democracy.
d). So, he could not act as an Extra-Constitutional authority or try to subvert the Constitution of India.
e). Only the Government of India is the absolute owner of all this national wealth . As such, no State Government (not even the present – day Telangana State ) has any legal right or moral authority to demand shifting of the Nizam Jewellery Collection to a permanent museum to be housed there.
9. Who did you fight on behalf of to oppose the Trustees?
PVR : Oh, on behalf of Princess Fatima Fouzia, the eldest granddaughter of the last Nizam, Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, & daughter of late Prince Waleshan Prince Moazam Jah Bahadur, the Junior Prince. And, the next two generations too are being represented by me to ensure justice for them in the palace, properties, etc.
10. Is it true that you had to face many rough situations while saving the national wealth from anti-national forces?
PVR: Yes. It is a professional hazard every soldier faces in the line of righteous duty. And, in my view, each citizen is a soldier for national development!
11. You have said in a television interview that this single collection owned now by the Government of India can help materialise all the dreams of Prime Minister Modi Ji, for India. How is this possible?
PVR : It is a priceless collection. We are in an advanced world today. This is the age when you can eat the piece of cake and have it too. The formula can only be divulged to the nation’s head. Suffice to say that if this particular possession of pride is properly utilised, seventy years of national debt can be wiped away. Net result- अच्छे दिन for all Indians !
12. PVR Sir, we are aware that you are a legend for many in the legal fraternity and a youth Icon for having rendered yeoman service to the Nation, unsung yet stellar. What is your message to our readers on ‘Nationalism’ ?
PVR : Lead kindly Light!
Only the spiritual fibre can imbibe the spirit of nationalism in a person.
Loyalty-Devotedness-Kindness typify India’s culture and, the hoary past can and will only disappear when we create a glorious present.
So, let the glory of dead & gone heroes remain confined to the history book.
Let one and all live free; breathe free and be freed from shackles of differentiation on various imaginary factors!
“One India: All Indians” is the motto of ‘Save National Wealth ‘- campaign which I have launched. Wealth encompasses knowledge, learning, dance, music, art forms, medicinal systems and above all else, the signature-tune of all ages of Hinduism ,viz; ‘वसुदैव कुटुंबिकं’ ! Universal Brotherhood!
