New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will ask King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India [1, 2].
The request highlights the ongoing international tension regarding colonial-era artifacts and the movement toward decolonization. India maintains that the diamond was taken under coercion during British rule and views its repatriation as a matter of national heritage [3, 4].
Mamdani made the announcement during a press conference held before a 9/11 memorial ceremony [1, 5]. He intends to raise the issue with the monarch during the state visit to New York City, which is scheduled for the week of May 6-12, 2024 [2, 4].
"I will ask King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor to India," Mamdani said [1].
The mayor linked the request to a broader history of imperial theft. He said the Koh-i-Noor is a symbol of colonial exploitation and should be returned to its rightful home [3].
While the mayor's office has signaled its intent to discuss the matter, the British monarchy has historically resisted calls to return the gem. Mamdani said, "We will raise the issue with His Majesty during his visit to New York" [5].
“"I will ask King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor to India."”
This move by the New York City mayor places a high-profile American political leader in the center of a long-standing diplomatic dispute between India and the United Kingdom. By framing the diamond as a symbol of colonial exploitation, Mamdani is leveraging the visibility of a state visit to pressure the British Crown on the issue of repatriation, reflecting a growing global trend of demanding the return of looted cultural artifacts.
