‘Royal’ parrot which Skypes goes missing, Rs 20,000 reward announced
Nazar Abbas | TNN | Updated: Mar 8, 2019, 13:59 ISTThe parrot interacts with Sanam Ali Khan's kin during a video chat.
RAMPUR: A missing parrot has suddenly become the talk of the town in UP’s Rampur. A rickshaw mounted with a loudspeaker has been making rounds of the city announcing a reward of Rs 20,000 for anyone who brings the nine-year-old parakeet back. The bird belongs to former Rampur royal family’s heiress, Sanam Ali Khan, and used to live in their Khas Bagh Palace until last week.
It loved to Skype too.
“Mitthu alias Paulie, as the pet is called, used to Skype with my Sydney-based sister every day and would ask for its favourite dry fruits,” Khan said.
Sanam Ali Khan
"We named after an award-winning Hollywood movie (Paulie, 1998) about a parrot's life," she said.
According to Khan, the parakeet flew away due to the carelessness of the caretaker when the family was away in Delhi.
Sanam’s brother, Sahabzada Salman Ali Khan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, said, “It is a family loss. All of us had grown very fond of Mitthu. We are praying for its safe return.”
The parrot’s photographs are being circulated over several WhatsApp groups in the city while the family and friends are praying for the bird’s safe return.
“Mitthu was intelligent and was able to respond to questions rather than parroting a few lines. It used to chat on Skype with our friends and relatives. I will pay Rs 20,000 to the anyone who brings the bird back to us,” she said.
The 37-year-old heiress is a senior conservator in Rampur’s Raza Library, which was built in the 18th century by successive Nawabs of Rampur and is now managed by government of India.
She specializes in miniature Mughal-era painting.
“The Mughals were very fond of parrots. The bird has been painted by many great Mughal-era painters,” Sanam said, referring to Tutinama (Tales of a Parrot), a 14th-century Persian series of 52 stories, whose illustrated version was commissioned by Akbar in the 16th century.
“Two Iranian artists, named Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad, worked for five years on the book which contained 250 miniature paintings,” she said.
“I wish my Tuti, Persian for parrot, is safely perched on a tree that ensures it is fed,” she said.
It loved to Skype too.
“Mitthu alias Paulie, as the pet is called, used to Skype with my Sydney-based sister every day and would ask for its favourite dry fruits,” Khan said.
"We named after an award-winning Hollywood movie (Paulie, 1998) about a parrot's life," she said.
According to Khan, the parakeet flew away due to the carelessness of the caretaker when the family was away in Delhi.
Sanam’s brother, Sahabzada Salman Ali Khan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, said, “It is a family loss. All of us had grown very fond of Mitthu. We are praying for its safe return.”
The parrot’s photographs are being circulated over several WhatsApp groups in the city while the family and friends are praying for the bird’s safe return.
“Mitthu was intelligent and was able to respond to questions rather than parroting a few lines. It used to chat on Skype with our friends and relatives. I will pay Rs 20,000 to the anyone who brings the bird back to us,” she said.
The 37-year-old heiress is a senior conservator in Rampur’s Raza Library, which was built in the 18th century by successive Nawabs of Rampur and is now managed by government of India.
She specializes in miniature Mughal-era painting.
“The Mughals were very fond of parrots. The bird has been painted by many great Mughal-era painters,” Sanam said, referring to Tutinama (Tales of a Parrot), a 14th-century Persian series of 52 stories, whose illustrated version was commissioned by Akbar in the 16th century.
“Two Iranian artists, named Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad, worked for five years on the book which contained 250 miniature paintings,” she said.
“I wish my Tuti, Persian for parrot, is safely perched on a tree that ensures it is fed,” she said.
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