The Koh-i-Noor has once again come into focus after Zohran Mamdani publicly supported calls for its return to India during a meeting involving King Charles III.
Mamdani said he would encourage the British monarch to return the diamond, bringing renewed attention to a long-standing demand linked to colonial history.
The Kohinoor, meaning “Mountain of Light,” is a 105.6-carat diamond believed to have originated in India’s Golconda region. Over centuries, it passed through the hands of Mughal emperors, Persian rulers, Afghan leaders, and Sikh maharajas before being taken by the British in 1849 under the Treaty of Lahore.
It was later presented to Queen Victoria and became part of the British Crown Jewels, where it remains today, housed in the Tower of London.
India has repeatedly asserted that the diamond was taken under colonial rule and should be returned, viewing it as a symbol of historical injustice.
Mamdani’s remarks, though not officially part of diplomatic discussions, have reignited global debate over the ownership of cultural artifacts acquired during colonial times, highlighting the continuing sensitivities around restitution and heritage.
