The sun may have set on the British Empire decades ago, but for one family in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore, a century-old financial loose end remains untied. The Ruthia family has come forward claiming that the British government owes them an unpaid sovereign debt dating back to 1917.
According to Vivek Ruthia, the grandson of the late Seth Jummalal Ruthia, his grandfather then one of the wealthiest businessmen in the Bhopal princely state, loaned ₹35,000 to the British administration. The “war loan” was reportedly intended to streamline administrative management during the height of World War I.
While ₹35,000 might seem like a modest sum today, it was a staggering fortune in the early 20th century. “If you calculate the amount based on the gold price of 1917 and compare it to today’s rate, the figure becomes significantly higher,” Vivek Ruthia told NDTV. By modern valuations, the debt could run into several crores of rupees.
The family claims to have recently discovered documentary evidence, including certificates, correspondence, and a family will, hidden among old records following the death of Vivek’s father. Seth Jummalal Ruthia passed away in 1937, and the family says the matter was largely forgotten until these documents resurfaced.
Now, the Ruthias are preparing to send a formal legal notice to the British government. They intend to invoke principles of international law, arguing that modern sovereign nations are obligated to honor historical debts.
The Ruthia family was historically one of the most influential in the region, once owning nearly 30% of the land where Sehore stands today. While they remain prominent in real estate and agriculture, they are determined to see this “historic debt” settled, turning a century-old piece of paper into a high-stakes legal battle for restitution.
