Where is our Kohinoor diamond? Is it still with the British? If it is, then it is high time they returned it.

Question

The Kohinoor was originally found and cut in Hyderabad, therefore it should be returned to the city's renowned Salar-Jung Museum.

Answer 1

A lot of discussion has been already made on this issue in the past, no point in discussing it once again.

Answer 2

The following article has published in May-16th Indian Express News paper, pl go through this.
NEW DELHI, MAY 16: If all goes well, the most prominent symbol of colonial plunder, the Koh-i-noor diamond may be back in India, thanks to Kuldip Nayar, eminent journalist and Rajya Sabha MP, and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Following a letter signed by about 50 MPs from both houses and Nayar a few days ago, the Indian Government has officially written to the British government to return the Kohinoor diamond.

"The Greeks have been asking for the return of the Elgin marbles for a long time now and the Blair government has even set up a committee to trace cultural relics to the country of their origin," said Nayar, adding, "And if they can consider returning the Elgin marbles, why not the Kohinoor?"

More importantly, Nayar has sponsored a motion in the Rajya Sabha pressing for the return of the gem, which will be discussed in Parliament. And to put pressure on the British government, a group of Indians in the UK have even formed a Committee for the Return of Cultural Relics of India in London.

The Kohinoor, a part of which now adorns the Crown of England, was perhaps the most famous piece of plunder of the British Raj. "It belonged to Dalip Singh, the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and was forcibly taken from him by the British," says Nayar, pointing out that even UNESCO has a clear policy on looted relics.

Nayar, who was the Indian High Commissioner in 1990, recalls that a Nehru Gallery was opened in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to showcase objects of Indian culture. "But what they displayed was only about four per cent of what they have in the basement. The basement has gems, cultural relics of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Chhatrapati Shivaji and even documents from the Raj."

Nayar says that requests were made that more relics be displayed or be loaned to the High Commission for display but these were turned down. "We wanted that the documents, which pertain to the Mughal period, the Sikh period be photocopied for scholars but they didn't agree to that either. I have even heard that the basement contains the plume that Guru Gobind Singh wore on his turban," he said. The British authorities reportedly also claimed that they didn't have an inventory of all they had.

As for the status of the stone once it comes back, if it does, Nayar says it should be treated as national property.

Answer 3

There are many more things than Kohinoor,which British misappropriated.If we demand all those then there will be no end to it What about propert looted by Ghazni.,Mohmmed Shah,.Timur Long,and Nadir Shah &co.?How to get those property from Iran ,Turkey,Uzbekisthan and Afghanisthan?Then the question of distributing among India,Pakisthan and Bangladesh shall arise.Thus attempt to recover Kohinoor shall throw up many problems which we shall not be able to solve.

Answer 4

Recently a diamond weighing half a KG was found in madhya pradesh. The local MLA took it without even notifying the government.can you recover it from him?
After recovering this we can go for Kohinoor

Answer 5

tjis kohinoor diamond is still with the british,most probably with Queen Elizabeth's throne. it is really highest time the british returned it to india as a good gesture.it would be really a crowning glory if it happens to india.

Answer 6

The Kohinoor Diamond

According to some sources, the Koh-i-noor diamond was found in the Godavari river in central India 4,000 years ago. Tradition associated with it states that its owner will rule the world, but that to possess it is dangerous for any but a woman. This may have been a delicate piece of flattery to Queen Victoria, who once owned the gem.
The authentic history of this jewel begins in the 14 c. when it was reported to be in the possession of the rajas of Malwa. It later fell into the hands of Baber, who founded the Mogul dynasty in 1526. During the next two centuries the diamond was one of the most prized items in the treasure of the Mogul emperors.

In 1939, Nadir Shah of Persia invaded India and all of the treasures of the Moguls fell into his hands except the great diamond. Nadir Shah was told by one of the emperor's harem women that the stone was hidden in the emperor's turban. The conqueror then invited the conquered to a feast and offered to exchange turbans as a gesture of friendship. The emperor had no choice but to agree. Later, in the privacy of his tent, Nadir Shah unrolled the turban, the gem fell out, and Nadir is supposed to have exclaimed "Koh-i-noor", mountain of light.

The stone continued in the possession of the Persian dynasty, although many attempts were made to gain ownership of it. The Persian king was assassinated, and his son Shah Rukh, was deposed. In an effort to discover the whereabouts of the diamond Shah Rukh´s eyes were put out, and boiling pitch was poured on his head, but he refused steadfastly to reveal its hiding place. Later, a Persian king fled with it to the Sikh court, and Ranjit Singh, the Lion of the Punjab, took the stone and wore it as a decoration. It was later placed in the Lahore treasury. After the Sikh wars, it was taken by the East India Company as part of the indemnity levied in 1849, and was subsequently presented to Queen Victoria at a sparkling levee marking the company's 250th anniversary

The jewel was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 where it was thought to display insufficient fire. It was decided to recut it from its original Indian form, and a member of the Amsterdam firm of Costar was called to London to cut the stone. A steam-driven cutting wheel was set up, and Prince Albert se the stone on the wheel, while the Duke of Wellington started it. The cutting took 38 days, but did not add much to the stone's brilliance. It was rather believed that the historical value of the diamond was diminished by the cutting. Queen Victoria continued to wear it as an ornament, then left it to Queen Alexandra, who wore it at Edward VII´s coronation. In 1911, the jewel was used in a crown made for Queen Mary, and in 1937, in another made to be worn by Queen Elizabeth at the coronation of her husband, King George VI in 1937. The Queen Mother's crown with the Koh-i-noor is in the Tower of London.

Answer 7

They declined to oblige Indian government's request to that effect. They say that it is part of history.

Answer 8

you know what they say,possesion is 9/10s of the law,or as that famous indian ex guru's wife ma shiela says" tough titties",

Answer 9

wallu- even i am also worried dear.
it was supposed to be with me , being an indian but still i also don't know where it is?
if u happen to, please let me know.