Demand for Kohinoor’s return increases following Queen’s death
Following the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a trend surfaced on the Twitter social media platform, demanding the return of Kohinoor's diamond to India in addition to other precious objects taken by the British from different countries in the colonial age.
Netizens believed that the precious diamond, which was introduced to Queen Victoria in 1850 and is currently exhibited as part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, should be brought back to the neighbouring country.
In the midst of all this, the only thing that is highlighted is how the United Kingdom has a lot of things in possession that were taken or plundered from other countries during their colonial era. Following is a list of a few of those items.
Tipu Sultan’s ring
Tipu Sultan’s ring was reportedly removed from his corpse by the British in 1799 after he lost the battle. According to many media reports, the ring was auctioned in the UK to an unidentified bidder for approximately £145,000.
Elgin Marbles
According to numerous reports and historical records, in 1803 Lord Elgin allegedly removed the marbles from the decaying walls of the Parthenon in Greece and carried them to London. For this reason, too, those precious marbles are called Elgin marbles.
Since 1925, Greece has been reclaiming its priceless possession, but the marbles have remained in the British Museum.
Rosetta Stone
Egyptian activists and archeologists want to return the Rosetta Stone to their country. The Rosetta Stone is presently exhibited at the British Museum.
According to numerous local papers, archaeologists claim they can prove that the Rosetta Stone was “stolen” by Britain. The Rosette Stone dates from 196 BC and according to historians, the famous stone was acquired by Britain after winning the battle against France in the 1800s.
Great Star of Africa diamond
Among the Queen’s many prized possessions, the ‘Great Star of Africa’ diamond is clearly distinguished. It is the greatest diamond in the world and weighs about 530 carats. Valued at about $400 million U.S., the Great Star of Africa was mined in South Africa in 1905. According to a number of African historians, the jewel was explored in 1905 and presented to Edward VII and they say the diamond was rather stolen or looted by the British government during their colonial rule. The Great Star of Africa is at present in the scepter of the Queen.