By The Sampadak Express
The United Kingdom is engaged in ongoing discussions with India to explore collaborative approaches for shared access to historical cultural artefacts, including those acquired during colonial times, British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said during her visit to India.
Responding to a question regarding India’s longstanding demand for the return of the 108-carat Kohinoor diamond, Nandy highlighted the importance of fostering mutual understanding and shared heritage access between the two nations.“
We have been in talks with India for quite some time about how we can collaborate more closely to ensure people in both countries can benefit from and access cultural artefacts dating back to a very different era,” Nandy stated. “This is something I’ve discussed directly with my counterpart in India.”
The Kohinoor diamond, currently part of the British crown jewels, was presented to Queen Victoria in 1849 by Maharajah Duleep Singh. It was later set in the crown worn by the Queen Mother in 1937.
Nandy reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening cultural and creative ties with India. “Across creative industries like film, fashion, TV, music, and gaming, both countries excel. We already export a great deal to the world, but through cooperation, we believe we can do even more,” she said in an interview with a news agency.
Highlighting successful collaborations, Nandy mentioned the partnership between the UK’s Science Museum Group and India’s National Science Museums, involving joint exhibitions and touring artefacts. “We see this as a model for broader cooperation across all creative sectors,” she added.
During her visit, Nandy led a British delegation to sign a major new bilateral agreement with India’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation aims to deepen cultural exchange and promote long-term partnerships between creative industries and institutions in both countries.
Under the new agreement, the UK will support initiatives in heritage conservation, museum management, and digitisation of collections. The British Council in India and the Indian Ministry of Culture will oversee implementation, alongside key UK cultural institutions including the British Library, British Museum, Arts Council England, Natural History Museum, Science Museum Group, and the V&A Museum.
