Michel Joachim Marie Raymond

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General Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (1755 - 1798) popularly known as Monsieur Raymond was a French General in Nizam's military and the founder of Gunfoundry in Hyderabad.

He was born on 25th of September 1755 in Sérignac, Gascony, France. He was the son of a merchant.

1 Adventures
2 Respect
3 Raymond's Tomb
4 External links
5 References & Sources

[edit] Adventures

In 1775 at the age of 20 he and his younger brother William Jean Raymond left for Pondicherry, India. The idea as he told his father, was to set up a merchant shop. Instead, he turned to the more exciting career of being a soldier.

He first served under French General Bussy, but it was in 1786 that Michel joined the service of the ruling Nizam of Hyderabad. He began as any other soldier, shortly after he was given 300 soldiers to command.

In 1796, Raymond was appointed Amin Jinsi or Comptroller of Ordnance. He established several cannon and cannon-ball factories. Under his expert guidance guns, ammunition and cannons were forged. Gunfoundry or Top ka Sancha near the Fathe Maidan is one of his best foundries remaining.

When he died on the 25th of March 1798, aged 43. It was just twelve years after joining, he was a military commander of over 14,000 men who were divided among 124 European soldiers. It is documented that there may have been a female battalion of soldiers as well.

[edit] Respect

Michel became a close friend of the second Asif Jah, Nizam Ali Khan. Michel was not only held in high esteem by the Nizam, but had also won the love and trust of the local people. He made himself popular through his kindness, bravery and contribution to Hyderabad. To the Muslim's he was Musa Rahim and to the Hindu's he was Musa Ram. George Bruce Malleson said that "No European of mark who followed him in India, ever succeeded in gaining to such an extent the love, the esteem, the admiration of the natives of the country."

[edit] Raymond's Tomb

The cause of Michel's death was never found, some believed that it was suicide, and others believed he was poisoned. The popular local belief is he committed suicide after the Nizam joined forces with the British.

Michel's Tomb is a black granite tombstone, conical in shape, about 7 metres high and it has the initials JR on it. The ill-maintained pavilion was built by the Nizam and collapsed in October 2001 in heavy rain. The 200 year-old tomb had a face lift and got a brand new pavilion. This was showcased before senior officials of the tourism and archaeology departments and other invited guests on 14th of April, 2003. An estimated Rs500,000 was spent to renovate the pavilion.

The tomb is located near Asmangadh fort on top of a hillock at Mussa Ram Bagh, Malakpet, about 3 km from the Oliphant Bridge (currently known as Chaderghat Bridge), in East Hyderabad. Until about 1940, people would visit his tomb on the anniversary of his death, taking incense and other offerings to him. His grave had become like a shrine. He is also remembered in Hyderabad, with the area called Mussa Ram Bagh (Monsieur Raymond).