Officials from India’s ruling party argued that using the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond in Camilla’s crown could bring back unhappy recollections of British colonialism.
The controversial gem is set to feature in the Coronation of King Charles next year, with the Queen Consort set to wear the late Queen Mother’s crown at the ceremony.
The incalculable piece features 2,800 diamonds with the front cross bearing the well-known 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the biggest cut diamonds in the world.
The enormous diamond stemmed from India and was presented to Queen Victoria by the last Sikh emperor of India, who at the time was 10 years old, but the gifting of the diamond is disputed and there are claims in at least three countries, including India, to have the jewel returned.
The precious jewel, which is part of the renowned Crown Jewels, could instead be replaced with another stone. Royal sources insisted no official conclusion had yet been made.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party in India has now weighed into the controversy, suggesting that its use in the Coronation could haul a few Indians back to the days of the British Empire.
A party spokesman to a newspaper outlet said that the Coronation of Camilla and the use of the crown jewel Koh-i-Noor brings back painful memories of the colonial past.
The spokesman said that most Indians have very little recollection of the dictatorial past. Five to six generations of Indians suffered under numerous foreign powers for over five centuries, and recent occasions, like Queen Elizabeth II’s demise, the Coronation of the new Queen Camilla and the use of the Koh-i-Noor did transport a few Indians back to the days of the British Empire in India.
When the King first presented the issue of his wife taking her place by his side at his Coronation several years ago it was provisionally agreed that she would be declared Queen Consort using the late Queen Mother’s crown.
However, a newspaper outlet has discovered that there’s considerable concern about this now given the ongoing controversy over the ownership of the diamond, which originated in India and is claimed not only by the public but also by several other countries in the region.
The jewel, which is held in a detachable platinum mount, may now be taken out of the crown before use, or the crown not even used at all in favour of something simpler, such as Queen Victoria’s coronet.
A source said that the original plan was for the Queen Consort to be crowned with the late Queen Mother’s crown when her husband acceded to the throne.
That was certainly the understanding a few years ago when the whole concept of the Duchess of Cornwall becoming Queen Consort was first mooted, but times have changed and His Majesty The King is acutely sensitive to these matters, as are his advisors, and there are profound political sensitivities and significant concern around them, particularly concerning India.
Of course, the jewel is incredibly valuable. However, if it were a nugget of coal they would have no interest in it at all, but the past is the past, and there isn’t anything that we can do to reverse that, but if they want it back, then it should be given back, after all, it was given by a 10-year-old, what did he know of value?
Should we be apologising for what happened hundreds of years ago, well there’s debate on that one but we could be debating about it for years to come and it’s history which should be learnt from, the problem is we never learn because most suffer from superiority.
History is there to learn from and make a better world for today and future generations. We can’t apologise for what transpired then because now is today and not then.
Of course, there was lots of bloodshed which ensued at that time, but sometimes the past should be left to rest as long as we learn from it, but have we truly learnt from it?
The gem was given effectively by a child.
No one wants to cause heartbreaking memories, but India itself has shrines in areas where abuse was caused to its people by the British, and by recognising history which we need to do, hopefully, we can move on and become better.
Tradition is kept for this exact purpose and it’s important to remember because history can’t be revoked.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 