In India, the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral has reignited controversy over Koh-i-Noor . diamonds. This 105.6 carat (21.6 gram) stone, which belonged to the first and last Maharajah of the Sikh Empire, is now part of the British Crown Jewels. Some, in India and elsewhere, consider that the gem should be returned to India, but this is not the position of the British government, which considers that the gem has been lawfully handed over to the Crown.

Uncertain origins of the Koh-i-Noor . diamond

that Koh-i-Noor . diamonds (“Mountain of Light”) currently adorns the crown of Queen Elizabeth, mother of Elizabeth II. It is part of the Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London and worn by the Sovereign during ceremonies and events. For Elizabeth II’s funeral, Monday 19 September, the crown is on display in the coffin, as was the case in the Queen Mother’s coffin, in 2002.

The origin of the rough stone is uncertain. It could have been extracted from the old Kollur mine, in present-day Andhra Pradesh, in southeastern India. The diamond later adorned a statue of the Bhadrakali temple at Warangal, in present-day Telangana, before it was stolen by the army of the Sultan of Delhi in one of his many raids on the Deccan, in the early 14th century.^e century. It is certain that the stone was extracted from the subsoil of present-day India: before the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in 1896, all diamonds in the world came from Indian mines.

Kohinoor has changed hands many times

that Kohinoor it is first mentioned in writing in the memoirs of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. It is likely that he took over after the conquest of Delhi, and the defeat of its last sultan, Ibrahim Lodi. Some people think that this diamond is not the same, but the result is the same: the Kohinoor ascended to the Peacock Throne, the throne of the Mughal emperor, in 1635. It was then rectangular in shape and weighed 186 carats.

In 1739, the Mughal throne of Kohinoor fell to the Shah of Iran, Nadir Shah, when he conquered and deposed Delhi. He described it as a “mountain of light”, and gave it its current name. In 1747, the Shah was assassinated by Ahmad Shah Durrani, the first Emperor of Afghanistan, and the Peacock Throne was destroyed in the ensuing chaos. The Afghan offered his protection to Nadir Shah’s widow and allowed her to be taken to safety. He would offer the diamond as a thank you.

The gem was one of the jewels of Afghanistan’s court until 1814. Afghan ruler Shuja Shah Durrani wore it on his wrist, attached to a bracelet. Deposed by Mahmud Shah, he went into exile in Punjab, where he was imprisoned. He was forced to hand over the diamond to Sikh Maharajah Ranjit Singh, along with two other famous gems, Daria-i-Noor and Timur Ruby.

How was Koh-i-Noor acquired by the British?

According to a letter kept in the National Archives in Delhi, Maharaja Ranjit Singh has decided to dedicate Koh-i-Noor to the Jagannaatha temple, in Puri (Odisha), with other gems. This project is not to the liking of the British. The British press lamented and the caption: “The most expensive gem in the world has been promised to the community of mercenary priests”.

Ranjit Singh died in 1839 without realizing his talent. In 1843, his son Dhulip Singh ascended the throne, at the age of five, under the guardianship of his mother. But in 1846, after the First Anglo-Sikh War, Punjab was annexed by the British Empire. In 1849, the Treaty of Lahore forced the viceroy to abdicate his throne and hand over the jewel to the Queen. Article 3 states: The jewel called Koh-i-Noor, which was taken from Shah Sooja-ool-moolk by Maharajah Runjeet Singh, will be handed over by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England. »

The stone was shipped by ship from Bombay to Portsmouth. The journey was difficult, interrupted by a cholera outbreak, threats of destruction by the governor of Mauritius, and a violent storm that lasted 12 hours! The gem was officially presented to Queen Victoria on 3 July 1850, a date marking 250^e East India Company anniversary. It was next shown at the 1851 World’s Fair, but the public found it dull and unimpressive. We therefore ordered the size, which gives the current oval and facet shape. The stone goes from 186 to 105.6 carats, but shines like never before.

Queen Victoria wore it as a brooch, and was later installed on the crowns of Queen Alexandra (1902), Mary (1911) and the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1937). He’s still on the last.

Why did the Indians demand the return of the Kohinoor diamond?

It was clear that the legitimacy of the treaty imposed on the defeated 9 year old ruler was questioned. After the defeat of Punjab in 1846 and its annexation, the district office was removed from Dhulip’s mother, and transferred to the District Council, headed by a British resident. The mother was imprisoned and exiled, and was not able to see her son again until thirteen years later. When he signed the treaty, the viceroy was therefore isolated and no longer had any power. He could only accept the conditions. He was sent under house arrest to Fatehghar, then a Christian missionary centre. He converted to Christianity, a decision he later regretted. Annuity was paid to him by the East India Company, as long as he remained loyal to the Crown and did not try to exercise power. He would be tempted to take back the throne in 1886, but was quickly sent back to Europe by the Raj.

Already in 1947, voices were raised for the Kohinoor to be returned to India, as a symbol of its independence gained that year. In 2000 Indian MPs co-signed a letter to the UK asking for his return. In 2009, Tushar Gandhi, author and great-grandson of the Mahatma, claimed that it should be restored, in “repair for colonial history”. Because, against the backdrop of the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, many Indians wanted the British to pay compensation to India, as compensation for the material and human losses that India suffered during 200 years of colonialism. period lasts.

During a debate held in 2015, Shashi Tharoor recalled that India represented 23% of the world economy before the British arrival, and only 4% after their departure. While the exact amount is difficult to estimate, there is no denying that Britain has enriched itself at the expense of India, whether through trade, taxes or property confiscation. Indians also suffer from hunger, cruel oppression, and discrimination. Moreover, colonization permanently destabilized social organization, and a poorly planned separation by Britain resulted in an unresolved conflict with Pakistan. So many arguments in favor of compensation claims and Kohinoor diamond return.

Could it be that Britain will one day hand over Koh-i-Noor to India?

During a visit to India in 2010, then Prime Minister David Cameron told NDTV that diamonds would not leave the crown treasury. According to him, this precedent is likely to empty the British Museum! In 2013, he reiterated his position and added that if he agreed to India’s request, other countries could claim property restitution, citing the Parthenon marbles, which Greece has been actively claiming since 1983. Bordered on cynicism, the argument only fuels a desire to improve.

Legally, according toAntiques and Treasure Arts Act In 1972, it was impossible for the Indian government to claim the return of antiques that were legally exported before independence. However, in 2016, in response to a petition to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Ranjit Kumar claimed that the Koh-i-Noor diamond had been offered to Queen Victoria, and that it had not been stolen or taken by force. The next day, the Minister of Culture rushed to ensure that the Indian government was determined to ” bring back the Koh-i-Noor diamond, peacefully “.

Accession to the throne of Charles III could offer hope for a change in policy regarding the return of property to former colonies. As the new legal owner of Royal Collection, he theoretically has the right to dispose of it, but it is uncertain whether he wants to deal with such matters, or that the government allows him to do so. In a few months, at Charles’ coronation, his wife Camilla, the Empress, is expected to wear the crown of Elizabeth, decorated with Koh-i-Noorwhich will not fail to revive the debate.

Out of spite, some Indians say they don’t want the stone returned, as it will bring bad luck to the male owner. The proof is its turbulent history. Another, more tangible consolation: in early September 2022, India’s GDP surpassed the UK’s for the first time, reaching $3.53 trillion. However, India would need a symbolic victory to turn the page in the colonial era.