Kolar Gold Fields Movie Of The

The angel investors and modern tech But more than a miner, Lavelle was the poster boy of the gold rush.

Michael Fitzgerald Lavelle, a retired Irish soldier from the British Army, had made Bangalore cantonment his home.

Retirement was a drag for Lavelle, who had just returned after fighting the Maori wars in New Zealand.

Although he hoped to make it big post-retirement, Lavelle spent much of his time reading; and a four-page article from the 1804 Asiatic Journal he came across, set Lavelle on a journey that eventually birthed the worlds second deepest goldmine the Kolar Gold Fields.

Kolar Gold Fields Movie Of The

While 2018 movie KGF, touted as the biggest Kannada movie of the year, has built curiosity about this forgotten mining town, and Indias gold rush, the makers admit the movie isnt a historical account but a work of fantasy.

However, this pales in comparison to the real story of the Kolar Gold Fields.

An article that started the gold rush Lavelle had developed an interest in gold mining during his time at war in New Zealand.

So, he was understandably excited, when an old report by one Lt John Warren spoke about possible gold reserves in Kolar.

Lt Warrens encounter with Kolar gold began in 1799, after erstwhile ruler Tipu Sultan was killed in the battle of Srirangapatnam by the British.

The British decided to handover Tipus territories to the Mysore princely state, but for this land had to be surveyed.

Warren, who was then serving in his Majestys 33rd regiment of foot, was summoned to Kolar for this task.

Warren had heard rumours of gold reserves and fables of people digging gold with their bare hands, during the time of the Chola dynasty.

Intrigued by the rumours, he announced a reward for anyone who could show him the yellow metal.

Soon, villagers appeared before him with bullock carts filled with mud, which they washed in front of the officer to isolate gold powder.

After an investigation, Warren concluded that for every 120 lbs or 56 kg of earth, one grain of gold could be extracted using the villagers crude methods and in the hands of professionals, this could open up large gold reserves.

Should we still fancy for the belief that gold occurs only on a narrow region Why cant the gold veins under the ground near Maarikuppam extend far beyond.

A Soldiers Start-up Between 1804 and 1860, there were several studies and explorations of the gold mines in the region, but in vain.

As some explorations in the ancient mines led to accidents, underground mining was prohibited by law in 1959.

Archival photoSrikumar But in 1871, excited about a 67-year-old report by Lt Warren, Lavelle made a 60-mile bullock cart trip to Kolar.

During his investigation, he identified several potential locations for mining.

Unlike others, he was able to find traces of the gold deposits.

After more than two years of research, in 1873, he wrote to the Maharajas government seeking a licence to mine.

Government authorities, who believed gold explorations were not viable only gave him permission to mine coal, but Lavelle insisted on searching for gold deposits.

Should I be successful in my search, it will be of greatest value to the government; in case I fail, it will cost the government nothing as the only assistance I require is the right to mine he wrote in the letter to the chief commissioner Mysore and Coorg.