Overview

The Koh-i-Noor is a symbol of colonial exploitation. The MYTH that the diamond was gifted to Queen Victoria must be dispelled. It was stolen NOT gifted. The last Maharaja of Punjab, Dalip Singh was only ten year of age when the precious jewel was taken from him. Lord Dalhousie orchestrated its removal: it was placed in a pair of iron boxes and shipped to England aboard the warship Medea on 6th April 1850. The boat docked at Portsmouth on 1st July 1850. The Koh-i-Noor was collected by John Shepherd, the deputy chairman of the East India Company on 2nd July, then 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 at Buckingham palace. Maharaja Dalip Singh was not present and had NEVER presented the diamond to Queen Victoria. It is an absurd suggestion! He was removed from India and brought to England in 1854. 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 retaliate the might of Britain at that young age?Maharaja Dalip Singh was denied his human rights: his right to be with his mother, to practice his Sikh religion, to speak his own language and reside in his homeland amongst his own people. He was denied his birthright: 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 atonement for the excesses of the British Raj.'The very least Britain can do now is to teach future generations the history of the Empire and the shameless exploitation of its colonies; which went on for too long...

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9781979042857

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Chaand was born in India and lived in the UK since 1974. Her father was a doctor, hence her interest in science. She studied physics, chemistry and biology to graduate level, and later did MA in philosophy and politics. Chaand was an elected councillor. She broadcast on All India Radio and BBC. Chaand published a collection of short stories 'BEHIND THE VEIL' in 1996 and wrote, produced and directed her first feature film 'THROW OF A DICE'. Her new screenplay 'STOLEN GOODS' is in pre-production. Chaand wishes to return to India next year in order to dedicate herself to working with orphaned children and dealing with domestic violence issues in her native country.

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