Should The Koh-I-Noor Be Returned? Mamdani vs King Charles III EXPLAINED
Summary
Anita Anand and William Dalrymple discuss the renewed controversy over the Koh-i-Noor diamond, sparked by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call for its return to India. They trace the gem’s bloody history from its mythical origins and Mughal era to its colonial seizure and recutting for Queen Victoria. The episode highlights the diamond’s role as a symbol of colonial loot and the complex, multi-national claims complicating any repatriation efforts.
Topics discussed
Intro, Empire Club promo, and Pepsi ad
Emergency pod: Mamdani demands Koh-i-Noor return
Origins of the curse: Simantaka gem and Hindu lore
Colonial myths vs. historical records of the diamond
The Peacock Throne and Nader Shah's looting of Delhi
Afghan turmoil: Ahmad Shah Durrani and the paperweight era
Ranjit Singh, the stroke, and the Orissa temple claim
Sikh Empire collapse and British annexation of Punjab
Duleep Singh's forced surrender and the cursed voyage
Recutting the diamond and Queen Victoria's coronet
Queen Camilla's refusal and modern repatriation debate
Conclusion: Colonial loot and the divide-and-rule legacy
Listen ad-free on Castria