April 2nd, 2002
With the death of Queen Mother Elizabeth, half a century after that of her husband George VI, the last person to use the ‘Imperial’ title for India has passed on. Her husband ceased to be Emperor in 1947 when India and Pakistan became independent of Britain. The inscript ‘Ind. Imp.’ was dropped from the British coinage and the diadem adorned with the Koh-i-Noor Elizabeth wore at becoming Empress of India was relegated to the memorabilia kept in the Tower of London for tourists to gape at.
The British Indian Empire ceased to exist on 14th/15th August 1947 at the moment when the new Dominions of Pakistan and India came into being. The coinage of the United Kingdom dropped the inscription ‘Ind. Imp’ or Emperor of India. He was merely a King from 1947 until his death of in 1952.
His widow, or relict, Elizabeth survived for another half a century. Having worn the Imperial crown at the coronation ceremonies of her husband and herself she continued to savour the joy of having been ‘Empress of India’ and enjoyed the fact that she was the very last to bear that title.
With her death at age 101 on 30th March 2002 the last personal link of Britain with what used to be the Indian Empire [and are now three countries, the secular [at least nominally!] Democratic Republic of India and the ‘Islamic’ states of Pakistan and Bangla Desh is snapped.
It is a moment when the British and the Indians the Pakistanis and the Bangla Deshis should reflect upon the future of the relationship between their countries both bilaterally and multilaterally.
The Kohinoor is perhaps the most famous gemstone in the world It is not merely a diamond. Let us see what it was thought of as in the 19th century when its ownership moved from India to Britain.
The account that follows is from ‘Lady Login’s Recollections’. [Court Life And Camp Life 1820-1904].
The receipt for the jewel reads
‘I have received this day [7th December 1849] from Doctor Login into my personal possession, for transmission to England, the Kohinoor diamond, in the presence of the Board of Administration, and of Sir Henry Elliot K.C.B. Secretary Government of India’
Lahore. Sd. Dalhousie
The diamond was the property of the boy Maharaja Duleep Singh son of Maharaja Runjeet Singh. Neither the father nor the son ever fought the British. How did the gem change hands? Duleep Singh became Maharaja at age 5 (Five). Maharani Jinda or Jindan mother of Duleep Singh governed the country under the directions of a Board of Control consisting of the two Lawrence brothers, Mr C.G.Mansel and Sir Francis Currie. ‘Natives’ were represented in a ‘Council of Regency’.
In 1848 Sikh troops fearing disbandment and loss of employment rose in rebellion under disaffected Sirdars. Six out of this ‘native’ council of eight remained loyal to the Maharaja and thus to the British run administration.
The insurgents were proclaimed rebels ‘against the government of Maharaja Duleep Singh’ and the British Army entered ‘ the Lahore territories ‘not as an enemy…… but to restore order and obedience.’
‘All who have remained faithful in their obedience to the Government of Maharaja Duleep Singh have nothing to fear from the coming of the British Army’.
Despite all this another ‘Treaty’ was imposed upon the Lahore accio.