Kundanmals buy an island!

The Kundanmal family has acquired Underi Island that lies off the Thal Coast, off Mandwa.

Confirms Ramesh Kundanmal, “Yes, it’s true we’ve acquired the island. It’s a private transaction between the Underi Koli Samaj (UKS) that possesses the island and us.”     
Gifted by the Queen of British Undivided India over 150 years ago to the Kolis through what is known as the ‘Tamba Patra’, the island was fortified with a retaining stone wall in the 16th century.      

Kundanmal, MD, Dolphin Stonecrest, first visited the island ten years ago and over several trips later came to know the villagers who are the lawful holders of the land. “In the olden days, the Koli community used the island to sleepover when they went fishing,” he reveals.

The 175 family strong Underi Koli community also lives in Underi village which lies across the island.  

The acquisition of the island has not gone down too well with certain parties that claim that the stone walls are actually part of a fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Kundanmal clarifies, “The title search clearly proves that the island is a private piece of land and its rights lie with the UKS. These rights are heritable and transferable.”

Moreover, the State and Central Archaeological Department have clarified that the said property does not fall within their protection. Even the ‘Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency-Kolaba District’ clarifies the findings.
So what plans does the family have for the island? “Well, since it’s now family property we’d like to enjoy it,” is all that son Riyhad is willing to reveal.
salil@dnaindia.net