Khoya Hua Noor: Should the Kohinoor Come Back Home?

-by Garima Jain

The British were infamous for impoverishing their colonies, disregarding the social development of the country and robbing them of their relics which have made their way to the British Museum, away from their countries of origin.

Recently however, Keith Vaz, a Member of British Parliament of Indian origin, has requested the government to return the world famous Kohinoor diamond to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country in November.

Owing to India’s rich history and relations with the Middle East, the real home of Kohinoor remains a debatable issue.

When Nadir Shah invaded the Mughal Empire, the Kohinoor was included in his loot and taken all the way to Persia where it was given the name it is known as today: Koh-i-noor, or Mountain of Light.

Upon Nadir Shah’s assassination the diamond found its way to his general who passed it on to his descendant, Shah Shuja Durrani.

Shah Shuja Durrani gave the Kohinoor to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who helped him get back the throne of Afghanistan.

And then from India the jewel made its way into the Queen’s Crown when the British forcibly made Duleep Singh, the successor of Ranjit Singh, hand it over.

And so this back and forth throughout history poses the question: Who should get the diamond?

The Iranians could claim that since Nadir Shah gave the Kohinoor its name, the stone is rightfully theirs. Afghanistan too could make demands for return of the diamond (as have already been made by the Taliban in 2000).

Even within India, there are many people claiming ownership of the Kohinoor – Indians hailing from all over the world claim to be descendants of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and thus the “rightful owners” of the gem.

The state of Andhra Pradesh, where the diamond was mined, is also included in this list.

The last testament of Ranjit Singh is also disputable, as several religious groups and temples are supposedly mentioned in it as the home of the Kohinoor.

Thus this will only lead to internal conflicts as well as rocky relations with Iran, Afghanistan and Britain.

Raking up the past is always a tricky territory. Should such a demand be pushed, it will only create tensions between Britain and India. Just like in the case of the Kohinoor, empires all over the world are in possession of historical artifacts from their colonies. Tracing the original owners of relics and returning them will be a messy affair.

There are countless items which could be considered integral parts of our past today but being in possession of them all is nearly impossible. India’s history should be celebrated as the experiences that have shaped a nation. A past rich with empires of different dynasties, ancient art forms, the most fascinating epics ever written and  a myriad of cultural influences is something to be cherished and taught for generations to come, rather than a mere stone which will be a burden on us.