Legal battle looms over India’s most prized diamond, now in England.
By Rajiv Theodore
NEW DELHI: “He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity,” says a 12th century Indian script in a reference to the largest known diamond of the period weighing 186 carats (37 grams).
Queen Victoria took the above warning seriously, and instructed in her will that the diamond, Kohinoor as it was later christened, must only be worn by a woman. Apart from Queen Victoria, it was adorned by Queen Alexandra (wife of King Edward VII), Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth – all female members of the British royal family.
After it came into the hands of Queen Victoria, it was resized and cut for the first time to 108.93 carats to get its present oval shape and the diamond did loose bit of its sheen too. (Today it is exactly 105.602 carats).
The Kohinoor is on display in the Tower of London and remains a property of the British royal family. Throughout history the Kohinoor was always stolen, bartered or gifted but never sold. But there were cries from the sub-continent seeking its retrieval.
But, on Monday, the Indian government told the Supreme Court that the jewel was a gift to the British and stressed that it was neither stolen nor was it snatched away. Moreover, the law does not allow India to bring back any of these artifacts that went out of the country before independence. Under the provisions of the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up the issue of retrieval of only such antiquities as have been illegally exported out of the country.
The government’s counsel, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, told the Supreme Court that the diamond was handed over to the East India Company by Maharaja Ranjit Singh after his defeat in the 1849 Sikh War.
The government will now file a detailed reply, as instructed by the apex court. The Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front seeking directions to the High Commissioner of the UK for the return of the diamond besides several other treasures.
The PIL, which has made Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Culture, High Commissioners of the UK, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as parties to the case, has also sought return of the “ring, sword and other treasures of Tipu Sultan, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani of Jhansi, Nawab Mir Ahmad Ali Banda, and other rulers of India.”
Kohinoor or the “Mountain of Light” in Persian was named by Iranian Emperor Nadir Shah who took possession of the diamond in 1739 when he invaded the Mughal Empire. There is no evidence of the name Kohinoor before that.
The diamond has a hoary past and had a tumultuous journey witnessing carnage and upheavals of history. Legends attribute its antiquity to almost 5,000 years back. Subsequently the stone had passed through the hands of successive rulers of the Delhi Sultanate for almost 200 years, until finally it came into the possession of Babur, the first Mogul emperor, in 1526, after the defeat of the Lodi dynasty, the last ruling family of the Delhi Sultanate.
In his memoirs, Babur mentions the diamond and states that it belonged to an unnamed Rajah of Malwa in 1294. Babur says the stone at that time had an immense monetary value and could have easily fed the whole world for two days. Later, it was mounted on the Peacock Throne of the Mughal. Shah Jahan, when he was incarcerated pined to see the Taj Mahal that he had built, but could only get a glimpse of an image reflected on this diamond.
After Nadir Shah ravaged the empire he took the loot along with Kohinoor back to Persia. But the diamond made its way back to Punjab as the quirk of fate would have it and then eventually fell into the hands of the British conquerors.
3 Comments
British stole distroyed and demaged whatever they found in great land of Bharat (India). They killed Raja Ranjit Singh. Took the his wife and made her begger in bengal. And took his son to England, forcefully marry him to British woman. They break the king’s family and stole the kohinoor.
Kohinoor & Sikh Virsa & India
There is a lot of talk of getting back the famous Kohinoor Diamond . Several countries of late have laid claims to it incl India & Pakistan
Kohinoor is one of the oldest and most famous diamonds in the world. The word Koh-I-Noor in Persian means “Mountain of Light”
After Travelling through various countries From Babur s treasuries to Nadir Shah in Iran & back to India in 1813 when Shah Suja Durrani brought it back to India & gave it to Ranjit Singh in return for his assistance in getting back his throne
it is a Sikh community property “Virsa” and cannot be gifted further.
So even if Heir apparent of Maharaja Ranjit Singh were to gift it further to the British in 1849 ;he would have no legal rights to do so
Duleep Singh was only 11 years old when he was (made) to sign away The Diamond. As a minor again he had no right to do so and any treaty signed by him would not be valid. In the interim writ of Sarbat Khalsa would apply
Not Just the Kohinoor also the Kalgi of Guru Gobind Singh and other priceless treasure need to be returned
Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled in the name of Sarbat Khalsa or Sikh community governing body . The background to that initially Panjab and adjoining areas were ruled by 7 Sikh Misls. Ranjit Singh united them under the aegis of Sarbat Khalsa and ruled under the aegis of the same. SGPC is a legal descent of Sarbat Khalsa and hence the bonafide owner (using the above logical constructs) of the Kohinoor Diamond
The major Sikh archives lie in the parliament library and in archives in Sri Harmandir Sahib
I agree with you. Bharat was so rich. British and Muguals stole a lot from our rich land. Listen to Rajiv Dixit on YouTube he tells so much truth of Bharat. He was also murdered when anyone speak truth, corrupt people stop them.