A discovery of ancient gold jewellery by a daily-wage labourer's family in Gadag district has led to an unexpected crisis, pitting their hopes for a home against government intervention. The Ritti family of Lakkundi, who unearthed a copper pot filled with ornaments, now find themselves in a precarious situation as authorities have stopped construction on their land, leaving them without shelter.
The Discovery and Immediate Aftermath
On Saturday, labourers digging the foundation for Gangavva Ritti's new house in Lakkundi struck a copper pot. Inside, they found 22 articles of gold jewellery weighing a total of 466 grams. The discovery was promptly reported to the Lakkundi Heritage Area Development Authority by Gangavva's eight-year-old son, Prajwal Ritti.
What began as a moment of potential fortune quickly turned into a bureaucratic ordeal. Following the report, government officials moved to halt all construction activities on the Ritti family's land. The mother and son, with no other place to go, were forced to take temporary refuge in a relative's house. They have since appealed to the authorities for alternative accommodation, a demand echoed by supportive villagers.
ASI's Verdict: Not Treasure, But Ancestral Property
The situation took a significant turn on Sunday when Ramesh Mulimani, Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Dharwad, visited the site. After inspection, he delivered a crucial assessment. Mulimani stated that the jewellery could not be classified as 'treasure' under the law.
He explained that much of the jewellery was broken and appeared to have been hidden by a family, likely under a floor or in a kitchen—a common practice in eras before banks existed. "Since no coin was found and no logo of any royal dynasty was found, they cannot be treated as treasure," Mulimani stated. "They can be considered belongings of commoners." He further opined that the artefacts likely belonged to the ancestors of the current site owner and saw no need for a large-scale archaeological excavation at the location.
The jewellery has been secured in the local treasury office for safekeeping. Based on the ASI official's clarification, the Ritti family members have now formally demanded the return of the ornaments. "We informed the government promptly, and archaeological officials themselves clarified that it is not treasure. Hence, it is the property of our ancestors, and it should be returned to us," they argued.
A Family Left in Limbo
Despite the ASI's opinion, the construction ban on their land remains in force. This has placed Gangavva Ritti and her young son in a desperate situation. Gangavva, a daily-wage labourer, pleaded her case, highlighting her vulnerable circumstances. "I am a daily-wage labourer and live with my minor son. Currently, we are living in a relative's house. The government has stopped the construction there, and we are clueless about our shelter," she said.
The local community has rallied behind the family. Villagers have put forth a reasonable demand to the government: if the authorities intend to seize or restrict the use of the site, they must provide the woman with an alternative plot of land and assist her in building a house.
The case highlights the complex intersection of chance discoveries, heritage laws, and the immediate humanitarian needs of finders. While the ASI's verdict offers the Ritti family a strong claim to the jewellery, their immediate future and the dream of a secure home remain uncertain, caught in a web of procedures and permissions.
