A 500-year-old cannon measuring 2,000 kg, was found near the banks of Tapi River on Monday afternoon.
This discovery is expected to throw more light on Surat’s history. The cannon is believed to be of Khudawand Khan, who brought it to Surat from Junagadh.
The cannon was found while workers of the state irrigation department land were digging land to erect an embankment wall on the bank of Tapi at Bhari-mata. While digging, a JCB machine struck the old cannon stuck inside the soil.
The department handed over the seven-feet-long artifact to the district collector who in turn handed it over to Surat Municipal Corporation. The civic body will place the cannon at Science Centre on City-Light Road.
It was found that the cannon belonged to Mughal ruler Khudawand Khan. Khan had constructed a fort at Chowk Bazaar in 1540. To protect the city from foreign invasion he placed cannons at every corner of the fort. The cannon traced on Monday is one among many which were brought from Junagadh to Surat.
The discovery of this cannon has revealed the glorious past of Surat. The city has many artifacts, but this one is said to be the best of all. Sources said that a team of archeologists will soon visit Surat to know more about the cannon and Khudawand Khan.
