It’s a common joke for Indian visitors to make to the guards when they visit the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London; that they would like to take the Koh-i-Noor back home with them. The 105 carat Koh-i-Noor, arguably one of the most famous diamonds in the world was taken away from India by the British when India was under British rule and has long been something that Indians would like to reclaim. Now however, in a surprising volte face, the Indian government has said that the diamond was not stolen or forcibly taken away by the British.
A bit about Koh-i-Noor (or Kohinoor)
The Koh-i-Noor is said to have been discovered in the 13th century at the Kollur Mine in present day Guntur District of AP. The Shah of Persia was said to have conferred the name ‘Koh-i-Noor’ meaning mountain of light to the stone when he got his hands on it. The stone then changed hands several times before it came into the hands of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1813. It is believed that he then bequeathed the stone to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha while on his deathbed in 1839.
However the British, ignoring the last wishes of the king, annexed Punjab and assumed possession of the Koh-i-Noor for Queen Victoria under the Treaty of Lahore. Interestingly it is believed that the stone has brought bad luck to the male members of British royalty and is hence used only by the female members of the family. Currently the stone is a part of the Queen Mother’s crown in London and Kate Middleton will probably be the next to wear it. India, Pakistan and Afghanistan have all made claims for the return of the stone.
India’s claim to the Koh-i-Noor
Pakistan has said that the stone was taken away as part of a treaty with the Maharaja of Lahore and hence should be returned. India made an official request for the stone to be returned in 2000 via a letter written by several Indian MPs. Later that year, Afghanistan also laid claim to the stone saying that the stone was taken from them to India and that they have a prior right to it. Visiting India in 2010, British PM David Cameron said that if the British said yes to returning the Koh-i-Noor, the British museum would become empty (because of similar claims made subsequently). So the Koh-i-Noor would stay put in Britain.
Why the Koh-i-Noor is making headlines now
The All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front has petitioned for the return of the stone as well as other antiques such as the Sword of Tipu Sultan. In response the counsel for Indian government said that the stone was not forcibly taken or stolen. A 43-year-old law was cited; which apparently does not allow it to bring back antiques moved out of the country before Independence. The Supreme Court warned that “you will face a problem in the future for making any legitimate claim.”
Meanwhile here’s what Twitter thought:
Author – Reena Daruwalla
