Raymond was born in 1755 and died in 1798. But now, after years of neglect the Andhra Pradesh State Archeology department has finally decided to restore his black-granite tomb, located on a hillock in Musa Ram Bagh, Malakpet, here.
City-based architect Khalid Mohiuddin has prepared a conceptual plan for taking up the restoration work in phases. The pavilion built in Grecian style, the smaller tombs of the members of Raymond’s family and his pet dog and horse will be restored as per Moihuddin’s plan. The plan includes landscaping and improving the access to the tomb to attract tourists. A museum of cannons to commemorate the French general’s expertise in the field is also on the anvil.
“Efforts are on to collect the cannons made at the Gun Foundry, set up by him at Abids here but now scattered at various historical sites,” Mohiuddin said.
Michel Raymond’s tomb is a black granite tombstone, conical, about 7 metres high and it has the initials JR on it. The pavilion was built by the Nizam; it collapsed in October 2001 due to heavy rain. Until 1940, people used to visit his tomb on his death anniversary, with incense sticks and other offerings.
In 1775, at the age of 20, Raymond joined the Army and served under French General Bussy. In 1786 he joined Nizam’s army.In 1796, he was appointed Amir-e-Jinsi or controller of Ordnance. He established several cannon and cannon-ball factories. Gun foundry or Tope ka Sancha near Abids is the best-known of all the remaining foundries in India.
When he died on March 25, 1798, Nizam’s general had become a military commander of over 14,000 men. It is also documented that there may have been a female battalion of soldiers. However, mystery surrounds the death of Michel Raymond. The two suggested causes of his death are poisoning or suicide.