Diamonds are NOT Forever

Diamonds Are NOT Ever: is the story of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is a symbol of colonial exploitation. The MYTH that this diamond was gifted to Queen Victoria must be dispelled. It was stolen by Lord Dalhousie, the then, Governor General of Punjab in 1849. It was NOT gifted. The last Maharaja of Punjab, Dalip Singh was only a ten-year-old child when the precious jewel was taken from him. Lord Dalhousie orchestrated its removal: it was placed in a pair of iron boxes: putting the diamond in a box then placing that in another iron-box to securely ship it to England aboard the warship Medea on 6th April 1850. The boat docked at Portsmouth on 1st July 1850. The Koh-i-Noor diamond was collected by John Shepherd, the deputy chairman of the East India Company on 2nd July, on 3rd July 1850; the Chairman and the deputy Chairman of the EAST INDIA COMPANY presented this world famous and fabulous diamond to Queen Victoria in a ceremony held at Buckingham palace. Maharaja Dalip Singh was not present there and had NEVER presented the diamond to Queen Victoria. Because he still was in India. It is an absurd suggestion! He was removed from India and brought to England in 1854. So, Queen Victoria was already in possession of the diamond - four years before the Maharaja was removed from India and brought to England.

Who in their right mind would believe that Prince William or George at age ten would be expected to hand over or surrender such a jewel at that tender age? Can there ever be any justification to separate a young child from his mother? It was pure greed on the part of so called 'Upright Brits'! How could young Dalip Singh match or retaliate the might of British Empire at his age?

Maharaja Dalip Singh was denied his human rights:1. his right to be with his mother (he was separated from his mother for fourteen long years) 2. To practice his Sikh religion 3. To speak his own language 4. To reside in his own homeland amongst his own people. 5. He was also denied his birth right: his treasures, his palaces, his properties and land (Jagirs). On his death bed, Dalip Singh's last words were: "I was held a virtual prisoner all my life, kept under constant surveillance, just because the British wanted to rob me of my inheritance; Mrs Fagin (referring to Queen Victoria) had no right to Koh-i-Noor as I have no right to Windsor castle!" Dalhousie, that staunch imperialist, vowed: "The task before me is the utter destruction and prostration of Sikh power; the subversion of its dynasty and subjection of its people. This must be done promptly, fully and finally." The descendants of Maharaja Dalip Singh have said - "Returning the Koh-i-Noor to India would serve as an atonement for the excesses of the British Raj." The least Britain can do now is to teach our future generations globally - the real, factual history of the Empire and the shameless exploitation of its colonies; which went on for too long...