The British looted many jewels like precious emerald encrusted waistband, 222 pearl necklace among others along with the Koh-i-Noor diamond, from India
Reported by ‘The Guardian’
London (Britain) – Besides the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the British also looted many valuable jewels from India, reports the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’. There were Idols, paintings, and a gold belt encrusted with 19 large emeralds among the loot. This claim is based on a 46-page file in the archives of the India Office, a Government agency during British rule. In it, there is a mention of an inquiry about these jewels.
COLONIAL LOOT: A file in British archives reveals how “priceless pieces, including Charles’s emerald belt, were extracted from India as trophies of conquest.”
Yet, oddly, India doesn’t name and shame the British monarchy for holding on to stolen property. https://t.co/7uYDhwlXEU
— Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) April 6, 2023
Elizabeth II’s grandmother Queen Mary commissioned a detailed investigation into the origins of her imperial jewels. Before being sent to Queen Victoria, these gems were with several Mughal rulers. In the 1987 inquiry report, Leslie Field described two pearl necklaces, made of 222 pearls, diamonds, and rubies. It is claimed that they belonged to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab.
| Editorial viewpoint
Will the Indian Government try to bring these jewels back to India ? |