The tragic tale of Duleep Singh

Posted by Jennifer Yap Feb 4, 2007

The bust of the Indian prince Maharaja Duleep Singh will be sold at Bonhams on April 19th at 101 New Bond Street, England. It is expected to fetch £25,000 to £35,000.

Fashioned by British sculptor John Gibson in 1859-60, it shows Duleep Singh (1838-1893) in full Sikh regalia. However, his story is a tragic one of loss and of political manoeuvring by the British Government and the British East India Company.

The son of the legendary Lion of the Punjab, Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and Maharani Jind Kaur, the boy-king Duleep Singh was torn from his mother at age 11 and sent into exile in England with the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Although he made his way through fashionable society in England, he was eventually used as a pawn in a conspiracy by the British Foreign Office.

Nowadays, his grave at Elvedon Hall in Norfolk is a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs.

To read his story, click here.