New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Britain will not return the famous Koh-i-noor diamond to India, taken during in the colonial era, clarified the British Prime Minister David Cameron during his trip to India last week. But cultural and political environments Indians have not given up.
The gem, weighing 105 carats (21.6 ounce) was excavated in a mine in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. In the mid-1800 came into possession of the East India Company and was later given to Queen Victoria, becoming part of the British Crown Jewels. In 1937 it was set in the crown.
July 29, during an interview with local television station NDTV India, Cameron explained the refusal stating that if they start to return art treasures of other states, "you may suddenly find the British Museum empty”. A comment that sparked wide criticism, confirming that the national museum in London is a collection of stolen goods. In addition to New Delhi many other countries (like Pakistan, China, Syria, Egypt, Mexico, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece and Guatemala) are calling on London to return stolen artworks.
London says it is able to take better care of the gem. India responds instead that UK museums have many treasures and works of art from India, but have no place to display them: such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which typically exhibits about 2% of its Indian collection. India also points to precedents such as the 12th century bronze statue of Matraj, god of dance, returned from London after a long legal battle.
The Indian government has not intervened for now. But India does not intend to abandon the diamond, which has great historical value and is seen as a symbol of colonial rule.
According to legend, the Koh-i-noor (Persian: Mountain of Light) was unearthed in the district of Gundur 5 thousand year ago. It is first mentioned in the Baburanama, memories of Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan and founder of the Mughal Empire: it among the spoils claimed by Babur the after the Battle of Panipat in 1526, where Vikramaditiya king Gwalior and owner of the jewel was defeated. Throughout its history the diamond then belonged to Hindu, Persian, Nughal, Sikh and British kings and leaders, sometimes given as a gift or compensation, sometimes taken as booty. It has been classified as a cursed diamond because all of its owners have lost their lives or kingdom. A bad luck does not appear to have affected British Royalty. Maybe - superstitions say - because the Queen does not carry the stone, but the leaves it among the Crown Jewels in the dungeons of the Tower of London.
