The death of Queen Elizabeth II reopened a decades-long debate: who owns the Koh-i-noor diamond, the 105-carat gemstone considered one of the largest (and most valuable) in the world that is embedded in one of the the crowns worn by the monarch.
For India, and other Asian countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia, the jewel was stolen by the English in the year 1300.
That’s why when Queen Elizabeth II died, the debate on social networks went through a single topic: return the Koh-i-noor.
The diamond is just one of 2,800 stones set in the crown made especially for Elizabeth II’s mother, Elizabeth I, known as the “Queen Mother.”
The story of the Koh-i-noor (or Kohinoor)
When the gem was mined in what is now Andhra Pradeshin times of the dynasty Kakatian (between the 12th and 14th centuries), the versions indicate that it had 790 uncut carats. The earliest record of possession of it places it in the hands of the Mughals in the 16th century. It was then seized by the Persians and later by the Afghans, according to Time.
As the story goes, the Sikh Maharaja, Ranjit Singhtook it back to India by taking it from the Afghan leader Shah-Shujah Durrani.
The British East India Company is believed to have obtained the stone in the late 1840s, after forcing the Maharaja Dunjeep-Singhjust 10 years old, to hand over their land and possessions.
According to Time, the Company gave the diamond to Queen Victoria and her Prince Consort, Albert, had it cut to place the parts in the crowns of Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary. Some time later, a portion of more than 100 carats reached the crown of the “Queen Mother”. It was before World War II.
The Queen Mother” used it at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.
Who owns the Koh-i-noor diamond
“If King Charles is not going to use Koh-i-noor, send it back,” one user wrote on Indian social media.
Another claims that the diamond “was stolen” by Great Britain, who “created wealth” from “death”, “famine” and “looting”.
This is not the first time that the intention to demand the return of Kohinoor has been mentioned. In 1947, after the independence of India, the government asked for his return.
The Asian country made another demand in the year of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the UK said at the time, there is no legal basis for Koh-i-noor’s restitution to India.
Indian-born British author Saurav Dutt, said a few days ago that the chances of the UK returning the stone “are very slim”. Although he acknowledges that it is true that the British recently facilitated the return of the so-called “Benin bronzes”, more than 70 targets looted by British soldiers in the 19th century to the Nigerian government.
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