medieval artifacts collection, Ashtoor

September 3, 2018
Our day started early with a quick visit to Narasimha Jharani, there was a log line of people queued up already. Though Pushpa wanted to see the cave, we skipped it because of time constraint. Then we moved on to Chaukandi - Dargah of Hadrat Khalimullahullah, where we happened to recognize the tourist guide Kalil Shah Bahamani. I'd met him in January 2011 at Bahamani tombs at Ashtoor. He had claimed and still claims to be descendant of Bahamani dynasty. He carries a bag full of papers supporting his claim including a print-out of my post on Bahamani Tombs. He offered us to show his collection of artifacts at his home. Naturally, I was interested and agreed. He lives in a small village near Ashtoor, we drove down to his small house. From the looks of the house, he seems to be a carpenter and probably a farmer too. When we entered the house, a collection of arms spread on a plastic mat greeted us, large enough to rival a small museum.

This collection included swords, daggers, stirrups, martingales, horse shoes,daggers, spearheads, arrow heads, scissors, sword handles, shield, one screw with a handle, bowl, a brass cat and coins (currency).

Here are the horse-shoes and stirrups. Stirrups are horse rider's foot rests. I have no idea where the linked rings are used.

A curved dagger, sword, spearheads and broken sword.

These are known as Katar. This is usually concealed on a person and used for self defence.

A brass sword-handle and a silver bowl with Persian or Arabic inscription.

Silver and brass coins. The small coin must be issued from Hyderabad since Charminar is embossed on it.

This just a part of his coin collection, impressive isn't it.

Lastly, we come to the deadly item- the screw. Kalil is holding the screw and its handle separately (left). The screw fits on to the handle, together they become a torture device. I need not describe its usage, you might have imagined how this would have been used on a human being. How cruel can man be!

Kalil in front of his house. The kid here (see inset) is his son, he's holding a foot tall brass cat in his hands. Its Kalil's wish to make a museum in his village and he's reserved a place also. He's trying to raise funds to make his dream come true. On the other hand, he's trying to prove his Bahamani lineage legally..

Thanks to Kalil for his invitation to see this invaluable collection.
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