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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
The name Koh -e- Noor or Kohinoor is derived from the Persian language which means ‘Mountain of Light.’ This world famous diamond is worth more than £100m at a conservative estimate. It is currently part of Britain’s crown jewels. But, India wants it back as it is part of the glorious national heritage.
Bollywood as Indian film industry is popularly called and businessmen have come together to seek the return of the diamond. They have instructed lawyers to begin legal proceedings in London’s High Court. They are asking Queen Elizabeth to return the Kohinoor diamond. The diamond adorned the crown worn by the Queen Mother at the coronation of her husband King George VI in 1937 and repeated again at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.
The group, which calls itself the “Mountain of Light” after the translation of the precious stone’s name, contends that the 105-carat diamond was stolen from its true home in India. They are demanding that the United Kingdom’s government returns it. Kohinoor is “one of the many artefacts that were taken away from India under dubious circumstances”, according to David de Souza from the Indian leisure group Tito’s. Souza claims that the British colonisation of India had stolen wealth and “destroyed the country’s psyche”.
Bollywood actor Bhumika Singh, also part of the group, opines: “The Kohinoor is not just a 105-carat stone, but part of our history and culture and should undoubtedly be returned.”
According to legend, the fabulous diamond is 5000 years old. The first document that attests the existence of the Kohinoor dates back to 1526 A. D, when the first Mughal Emperor of India, Zaheeruddin Mohammed Babur had it in his possession. He had disclosed that the diamond was owned by the Raja of Gwalior in the 13th century.
The diamond was passed on to various Indian and Persian rulers who fought bitter battles throughout the Indian history. Later, the Kohinoor was mounted on the Peacock Throne of the Mughal Emperors of India. It is said that Shamsuddin Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor commissioned the building of the Peacock Throne. Emperor Shah Jahan’s ‘monument of love’ – Taj Mahal is world famous.
Later, Emperor Shah Jahan’s son and successor, Emperor Mohiuddin Aurangazeb brought the Kohinoor to the Badshahi Masjid in Lahore, a city in the present day Pakistan. It was looted from there by the Persian invader Nadir Shah, who took the diamond to Persia in 1739.The diamond found its way back to the Kingdom of Punjab in 1813 after the deposed King of Afghanistan, Shuja Shah Durrani took it to India. He struck a deal to surrender the diamond in exchange for help in winning back the Afghan throne.
The British came across the gem when they conquered Punjab in 1849. Queen Victoria was presented with the diamond by the deposed King of Punjab, Duleep Singh under duress in 1851. The diamond weighed 186 carats (37 grams) then and at this point of time, the diamond was not cut. After cutting, it was reduced to the present weight of 105 carats.
The Kohinoor was used by Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra (wife of King Edward VII), Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. There is an alleged curse on the Kohinoor that affects males who wear it but females are immune. Since the time of Queen Victoria, only women have worn the diamond. Presently, the Kohinoor is on display in the Tower of London along with the Crown Jewels.
It is believed that the name Kohinoor was first used by Nader Shah who took possession of the diamond in 1739. Prior to this date, the name Kohinoor wasn’t used.
The British Lawyers instructed by the “Mountain of Light” group to return the Kohinoor, believe that their case would be based on the Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Act, which gives national institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) the power to return stolen art.
Satish Jakhu, of Birmingham-based law firm Rubric Lois King, argues that they would make their claim under the common law doctrine of “trespass to goods”. The argument is that the government had stolen the diamond. According to reports, they would be taking their case to the International Court of Justice.
The disagreement of ownership draws parallels to a similar case of the Elgin Marbles. The ancient valuable sculpture is currently held at the British Museum, which Greece wants returned. The UK government has so far rejected the claims.
It is interesting to note that, there are many countries that have tried to claim the Kohinoor, including the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In 1976, the then Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had asked the then British Prime Minister James Callaghan for the Kohinoor to be returned to Pakistan. The request was declined to with a polite ‘No’.
There have been repeated requests by India on a regular basis. When the British Queen Elizabeth made a state visit to India to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s independence from Britain in 1997, many Indians demanded the return of the diamond. In February 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron on the final day of a 3- day visit to India said the Kohinoor would stay in Britain and ruled out returning the precious stone to India.
The matter may be raised during the scheduled 3-day visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Great Britain from 12th November 2015. If that happens, that may take the shine out of the diplomatic talks. The British must realize that the Kohinoor rightfully belongs to India. A magnanimous gesture on part of Queen Elizabeth may put the lustre back into Indo-British relations towards reducing animosity over the 200-year British colonial rule of India. Meanwhile, Kohinoor will continue to dazzle as beautifully as ever!
