The Kohinoor diamond is a symbol of the cultural treasures that were stolen from the South Asian nation, Shashi Tharoor has said
Parliamentarian and noted author Shashi Tharoor has sought the return of colonial-era loot housed in British museums to be returned to India.
In the latest episode of RT’s Imperial Receipts, which aired on Monday, Tharoor said the 105.6-carat Kohinoor diamond that is set in the crown worn by the mother of the late Queen Elizabeth II is far more than just a precious rock.
“For India, it stands as a symbol of the artifacts and cultural treasures that were taken to Britain as trophies of Empire,” he said.
The diamond was mined in southern India and changed hands between various empires in South and West Asia before being in the possession of the Sikh Empire in Punjab in northwestern India. It was snatched by the British East India Company from the Sikh ruler after the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) and the subsequent annexation of Punjab.
The Word "Loot" Derives from Hindi - British Stole that Too! @ShashiTharoor looks at some of the most cherished artefacts dismantled, stolen and put on display in the 🇬🇧 as trophies of their colonialist rule.
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 8, 2025
Watch Epsidode 2 of Imperial Receipts via our LIVE stream! https://t.co/18pRWNd2Fr pic.twitter.com/cZw8jpcoaB
Tharoor pointed out that even the word “loot” was adopted by the British from Hindi into their dictionaries and their behavior. He added that modern Britain owes much of its global stature to the exploitation of its colonies.
“Most importantly, beyond the loss of physical artifacts, the British Crown stripped India of something even deeper: its self-respect and dignity,” he said.
Apart from the Kohinoor, the British took away other objects of deep cultural significance that can now be seen in places like the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
