Taj Mahal on Sale! Sounds like a movie’s plot. Isn’t it? Well, it exactly not. Though we have seen such a plot earlier in several movies like ‘Natwarlal’ and ‘Bunty aur Babli’. But all of these con stories are inspired by a real conman named, Natwarlal.
Natwarlal was one of the biggest conmen of India. The man was brilliant in his job and targeted multiple Indian monuments ranging from Parliament to Red Fort. He also sold The Taj Mahal, not only once but thrice. Even he was caught on several occasions but this clever mind somehow managed to escape every time.
A few people know about his conman stories by his popular name, Natwarlal but, his real name was Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava. He was born in Bangra, district Siwan, Bihar. He is well known for his cons of selling Taj Mahal repeatedly. But, there are a number of other Indian monuments which were sold by this con artist. Those monuments include the Red Fort, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and also the Parliament House of India along with its 545 sitting members. He made a legacy in conmanship.
Another interesting fact about this clever conman is that he served as a professional lawyer before he turned himself into the con world. He sold all the targeted monuments by despising as a Government official. Then, he lured international tourists towards The Taj Mahal and made them buy it with the help of his con skills. He imitated the signature of President Rajendra Prasad to do a final finishing to his crimes.
Whatever he did but, Indian history will never forget what Natwarlal aka Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava did and definitely his legacy will stay with all of us.
Also read: The Closer You Look, The More You Reveal
Tiru Dehariya
