Priceless preservation.

i think one of them is 'Sufi' if i am not wrong.... what do you think Hemant Rajopadhye?

Probably yes Muphid...those wearing turbans!

hmmmm..... : )

sir, tyat muslim hi aahet bahuda...

So it can be...... Painting of seven Hindustani ascetics under a banyan tree. Inscribed. Signed and dated Artist: Inayat Date: ca.1598 Style: Mughal © Trustees of the British Museum

Yes, Shekhar D. Nayeekji, Muphid Mujawar revealed the same thing.

It could represent ascetics from different sects. I see an inscription in the bottom left corner - perhaps reading that will give us a clue.

how sure you are :)...some people use to deliberately wear the dress of other religious groups, e.g. Nanak. conversely naked ascetics could be of whatever origin....why to seek at the picture something what most of these people tried to reject?...Hemant, is there any academic description of the picture, apart from the one given by Muphid above ?

:-)Dusan Deak I agree. Perhaps it would be better to reach any conclusion after deciphering the inscription indicated by Dr. Bhandare. One might get some clue from it.

no..no.. i dont want to reveal that their is muslim also.... i just thinking of possibility of depiction of sufis in the painting. This is painting was painted precolonial hindustan in which people were not identify themselves on the basis of religion. 'hindu' or 'muslim' these words were not enough for them. they are shakta panthi, fakir, sufi, tantrik, ....etc etc...!

Should come back to India

I agree with @shailen bhandare ...!

Many Hindus ascetic sects wear turbans too.

Yes, why is it in the British Museum? All stolen property should be returned.

I am sorry to say this, but often materials like this are better preserved outside india. I understand the sentiment of return but its good to look at reality as well.

Not only books but plant material(Herbariums) and animal specimens-entomological collection is well preserved and thoroghly studied there. If we wish, we have more than enough material to STUDY and then Preserve!

>> I understand the sentiment of return but its good to look at reality as well. Then the question is how to ensure that the sentiments and reality align, is it not?

Indian's themselves sold it there. To the museum:}:}:] Not all Indians were and are patriots...Look at the scale of corruption in India...