Alam from Oz not same as one stolen from Aza Khana

Hyderabad: Is the Alam (processional standard used during Moharram) being returned by Australia’s National Gallery of Arts the same one that was stolen from Aza Khana Zehra in the city on April 11, 2003? Experts in Alam designing and evolution point out that the Alam coming from Australia is different from the one stolen from Aza Khan Zehra, which is still missing. The NGA is returning the Alam of the Vijayanagar empire as part of the 14 artefacts that were stolen from India at different times.As efforts are being made by unscrupulous elements to project the Alam from NGA as the one stolen from Aza Khana Zehra in an apparent bid to close the 18-year-old theft case, experts have pointed out the subtle differences in the Alams crafted in the kingdoms of Vijayanagar and Qutub Shahis and the dominion of the Asaf Jahis. Alams crafted during these periods are unique with marked differences in craftmanship, use of metals, attachment of mythical figurines and the design of their fingers.“The Alams designed in the later part of the Asaf Jahi rule are also different from the ones popular in Vijayanagar and Qutub Shahi periods,” said Mir Murtuza Ali Moosvi, custodian of Badashahi Ashoorkhana. Murtuza Ali, who is an expert on Alams and their evolution over last 500 years in Telugu states, told TOI that the design of the Alam stolen from Aza Khana Zehra and that of NGA’s Alam do not match at all. The age difference between the two Alams is about 400 years. The NGA Alam was crafted between 1509 and 1529 CE long before the Charminar was built. The Alam stolen from Aza Khana Zehra was presented by Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan, in 1956. The Vijayanagar Alam is made of brass or possibly panchaloha, while the one from Aza Khana was crafted in silver.The Vijayanagar Alam has figurines of lions and dragons attached to them, while the Qutub Shahi ones have the mythical figures embossed or engraved. “A close observation of the NGA Alam shows an intricate chain work. This pattern was followed in Vijayanagar empire for mangalsutras too. This design, which is chain-like, is also followed by modern goldsmiths inspired by Vijayanagar designs,” Murtuza Ali said.