New York Mayor Adams encourages King Charles to return Koh-i-Noor Diamond

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has publicly urged Britain's King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond. Mamdani, an Indian American, voiced his encouragement for the diamond's repatriation during a press conference on Wednesday, just hours before a ceremony honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. This call comes as the British monarch is on an official visit to the United States, bringing renewed attention to historical grievances related to British colonialism. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the mayor's remarks, and Mamdani's office has not confirmed whether the issue was discussed directly with the King. India has a long-standing demand for the return of the 105-carat diamond, which was acquired by the British East India Company in 1850 after annexing the Punjab region. For many in India, the diamond is not merely a gem but a potent symbol of the atrocities and exploitation that characterized British rule. The historical context, including India's independence in 1947 and the sensitive memories of colonization, fuels this demand. The Koh-i-Noor has a complex past, having been owned by various rulers across different empires, including Mughal emperors, shahs of Iran, emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh maharajas, before its acquisition by the British. Mamdani's statement, made in the symbolic setting of New York City, resonates deeply with the sentiments of many in India who see the diamond's return as a matter of historical justice and a repudiation of colonial legacies. The Straits Times, reporting this from Singapore, highlights how such calls for restitution continue to echo globally, particularly from nations with a history of colonial rule.

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If I were to speak to the king separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond.