Kohinoor, meaning “Mountain of Light”, was originally about 186 carats in mass – The “curse” of the diamond
After her death Queen Elizabeth II last week, social media users have been calling on the British government to hand over relics that came into the possession of the British Empire, including the priceless Kohinoor diamond – one of the most famous diamonds in the world.
Discussions about the diamond, which is a prized part of the British Crown Jewels collection, have trended on social media amid coverage of the Queen’s death, with users posting their views on the empire – and humorous memes for stealing the diamond.
Internet jokes aside, many recall the British colonialism behind the diamond’s possession.
The Kohinoor, which means “Mountain of Light”was originally about 186 carats in mass, and while its exact origin is unknown, it was probably discovered in South India in the 13th century.
Danielle Kinsey, an assistant professor of history specializing in the history of the 19th-century British empire at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, said its impressive size often masks its less appealing history.
“More importantly, historically they are part of the booty or trophies taken as a result of wars in South Asia. So, in many ways, it is a symbol of plunder, and it represents the long history of the ‘imperialism of plunder,’” he commented.
Kinsey said that one of the ways the British government and scholars rationalized and justified British imperialism in India and elsewhere around the world was to say that their version of imperialism was not about plunder , but “the elevation and civilization of settled populations”.
“The real stories of British imperialism tell a very different story, a story of horrific violence, displacement, prejudice and significant economic exploitation” he underlined. “I think people are outraged at how the Kohinoor continues to function as a trophy of empire while it remains in the possession of the crown.”
The diamond found its way into the hands of many dynasties, starting with the Mongols in the 16th century, then the Persians and then the Afghans, before being acquired by the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1813.
Maharaja Duleep Singh, Ranjit Singh’s son and successor, kept the diamond until the British annexed Punjab in 1849. Duleep, aged just 11, signed the Treaty of Lahore, which also stipulated that he would give the diamond to the Queen of England (Victoria).
THE Lord Dalhousie, Scottish statesman and governor-general of India, forced Singh to “gift” the diamond to Victoria, he wrote in an August 1849 letter to his friend Sir George Cooper. He had ambitions for the diamond to become the “eminent gem” of the British Imperial Crown and to become famous for facilitating the crown’s appropriation of the stone.
The diamond was sent to England and, after expert inspections, was unveiled to the public at the Great Exhibition of 1851, where many were unimpressed, Kinsey said.
“This was something of a scandal, and the diamond became a magnet for criticism of East India Company imperialism, especially during the still fresh Anglo-Sikh War,” Kinsey said.
To defuse the scandal, Victoria’s husband Albert ordered the diamond to be cut and polished – leaving it at almost half its original mass, around 105 carats, the BBC reported.
Rumors that the diamond was cursed also spread upon its unveiling, as it was rumored that any man who wore it would experience great misfortune and therefore could only be worn by a woman, the professor said.
The scandal over the imperialist practices of the East India Company and the rumor of the curse of the diamond would not “fade away”, so the Kohinoor never became the “preeminent jewel” in the imperial crown in the way Dalhousie had envisioned, said the teacher.
Originally the Kohinoor was worn as a brooch by Queen Victoria, and later became part of the crown jewels. It was first placed on the crown of Queen Alexandra and then on the crown for the coronation of the Queen Mother in 1937. Queen Elizabeth II wore it at her coronation in 1953.
As the professor pointed out, many governments have asked for the return of the Kohinoor and have claimed it, including India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, and she believes it is only a matter of time before it is handed over.
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