Kohinoor diamond

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, has rekindled the chatter demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond to India.

In April 2016, India got close to getting some closure on the treasured diamond after the government told the Supreme Court that it was neither stolen nor was it forcible taken. The Queen, who was in Britain, received the Diamond in July 1850 and later modified it to fit into the Queen’s crown. In the late 1900s, former Indian high commissioner to the UK, Kuldip Nayar, moved a petition in the Rajya Sabha, demanding the return of the diamond. Descendants of Maharaja Ranjit Singh have claimed that the diamond is theirs and that they want it back. It has been part of the British Crown Jewels since then, but continues to be the subject of a historic ownership dispute. Hours after the Queen’s death, at her Scottish retreat in Balmoral, was announced on Thursday, social media was abuzz with people’s calls to return the world’s largest and most controversial diamond to its country of origin.

Kohinoor was taken away from Sikh ruler Duleep Singh, after the death of his father, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. | OpIndia News.

When he saw the diamond gleaming in the sunlight, he raised his hand and murmured, ‘to Humble Majesty Kohinoor diamond,’ and thus the bid to donate the diamond came into being.” Originally, it was called ‘Samantik Mani,’ which means “Prince and Leader of All Diamonds.” When the Persian King Nadir Shah (King of Persia) invaded India in 1739, he called it the “Mountain of Light.” It was treasured at the time as a sign of an Empire’s power. Lady Login argued that seeing the diamond would do him no damage, and it was brought from the British treasury on the Queen’s orders. [Kohinoor](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/kohinoor-trends-india-after-queens-death-precious-diamonds-origin-history-ownership-explained-852115) diamond is currently in the platinum crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her reign as the Emperor of England. During the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849 AD, the British army made Raja Ranjit Singh’s son Duleep Singh surrender the Sikh empire. Kohinoor, the world’s most contentious diamond, is about to change hands.

Within hours of Buckingham Palace's announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, tens of thousands of tweets about the crown jewels had the term ...

[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) She personified dignity and decency in public life. “Journey of Kohinoor: From India to England. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. Kohinoor, also spelled as Koh-i-Noor, is a 105-carat gemstone which means “mountain of light” in Persian. It is laden with 2,800 diamonds set into its platinum frame. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. Pained by her demise. [gift” to the East India Company ](/news/uk/home-news/kohinoor-diamond-india-insists-it-still-wants-priceless-jewel-stolen-by-the-british-empire-a6992246.html)by the former rulers of Punjab in 1849 and it was “neither stolen nor forcibly taken”. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour.” [ jewels of Queen Victoria along with hundreds of other gemstones ](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-jewel-in-the-crown-the-curse-of-kohinoor-5331805.html)that are said to have incalculable cultural, historical, and symbolic value and remain part of the royal collection. [Buckingham Palace](/topic/buckingham-palace)’s announcement of the death of [Queen Elizabeth II](/topic/queen-elizabeth-ii), tens of thousands of tweets about the crown jewels had the term “Kohinoor” trending in [India](/topic/india).

Shortly after British monarch Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Sept. 8, the word “Kohinoor” began trending on Indian Twitter. It was a reference to one of ...

[another demand](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1953/05/05/96618569.html?pageNumber=1) in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. arguing that there are [no legal grounds](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kohinoor-not-coming-back-britain-says-no-legal-ground-for-restitution/articleshow/53402404.cms) for the Kohinoor’s restitution to India. But Dutt says the British royal establishment is still “married to this romantic version of empire, even though it is long dead, and has lost its power.” The Kohinoor is a symbol of that power, Dutt argues, and in turning it over, he believes the Royals “would essentially be eviscerating themselves.” [taking it](https://qz.com/india/867776/the-globetrotting-adventures-of-the-kohinoor-indias-most-famous-diamond/) from Afghan leader Shah Shujah Durrani. [mined](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/queen-elizabeth-iis-death-camilla-will-get-kohinoor-diamond-crown/articleshow/94092586.cms) in what is now modern-day Andhra Pradesh, during the Kakatiyan dynasty of the 12th-14th centuries, it was believed to have been [793 carats uncut](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/true-story-betrayal-bloodshed-behind-10691738). returning the jewel are slim. Upon India’s independence in 1947, the government asked for the diamond back. It is not the first time that the diamond’s return has been sought. The Queen Mother wore part of the crown at her daughter’s coronation in 1953. The company then presented the gem to Queen Victoria. has prompted many Twitter users in India to demand its return. It was a reference to one of the world’s most famous gems.

The death of Britain's longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II has rekindled social media chatter demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond to India.

the Culture Ministry will not take any initiative (to get back the diamond)," Sharma had said. However, issues of antiquities before Independence "do not come under the purview of the Culture Ministry," he added. Now that I am a man, I would like to have it in my power to place it myself in Her Majesty’s hand." On his visit to India in July 2010, then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron said, "If you say yes to one you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty. Author and historian William Dalrymple noted in his book, "Kohinoor" that child Sikh heir Duleep Singh regretted having surrendered the jewel to Queen Victoria. Until it is returned — at least as a symbolic gesture of expiation — it will remain evidence of the loot, plunder and misappropriation that colonialism was really all about," he said. He claims that Ranjit Singh's successor could not hold on to his kingdom and be defeated by the British in two wars. The government has made demands for Kohinoor's return on several occasions with one as early as 1947. It passed through different dynasties before landing in the possession of the Sikh Maharaja of Punjab, Ranjit Singh, in 1809, Tharoor noted. Kohinoor, which means 'Mountain of Light', is a large, colourless diamond that was found in southern India in the early 14th century. From its original glory of 158 carats, the diamond has been whittled down to its present 105 carats form over the centuries. Another user @gomathi17183538 alleged that Queen Elizabeth II was an "active participant in colonialism".