1 A Choice

1849

Lord Dalhousie, stood transfixed as he saw the diamond. He couldn't help but admire its purity and sheer size, it was a symbol of power. It was testimony for triumph.Passed down from generation to generation, an heirloom of the masters , It wasn't much of a surprise that it had come into white hands . He wondered why God had invested so much in this country. He smiled at the thought of the obvious answer, for the imperial masters to make use of these fine resources.If only God had thought to give with both hands ,would the country have stood a chance against the pure muscle of the British. " Sir ", said a voice as he broke out of his reverie, " Orders straight from the palace." The soldier placed the envelope on the mahogany table, another gift from the Indian Province. Dalhousie picked up the letter. He checked for the purity of the seal and after a thorough inspection, opened it .

To Whomsoever it may concern,

The diamond annexed from the Indian province is to be sent by any means necessary to London.

It will serve as a sign of Britain's dominance over its colonies for ages to come. The officer who

led this endeavour is to be proud of serving the royal family.

Chief Administrator

James Robert Macaulay

Dalhousie couldn't help but embrace the anger brewing inside him. They didn't know who he was. They didn't know anything about the two battalions that they had crippled.They didn't know. Idea after idea , each one with more time in prison whispered . No . He won't do anything. The Royal family was his master and they owned this province." Do they really?", asked the whispers. " They had no role in conquering this nation, in fact , the Province was owned by the Company. Who were they to dictate terms ? what have they done to deserve a claim to what this nation has to offer? They didn't know who you are, who your men are, how many lives they have ruined, and they won't know at all if you make the diamond your own. Take it, take the diamond. You led the war and you deserve it ...They won't know."

He sat there for sometime. with his feet on the mahogany wood, and his hand reaching out for a cigar,he started to think.Three hours later, he knew what he was going to do and how. He walked out of his personal tent to the outside where he would be killed brutally if his plan was flawed by any degree. " Gather around ", he screamed with pure authority. In less than a minute , a neat, perfect line was formed. "The diamond that we have annexed , is going to adorn the royal family. Our set of troops have made history ,and it shall always remember those who fought this war and those who gave up their lives. History will always remember the fact that a group of traders conquered a massive nation. And history will always remember the pure dominance of British hands." After silencing the thunder of claps that ensued , he said ," The three month voyage across the ocean to our beloved nation to deliver this token of power will be undergone by me. And in my time of absence ,I expect you to join the troops in Madras." After another wave of claps , one hand was risen. Dalhousie looked at the man with one hand in the air and asked, " Any questions soldier?" , " Just one sir", said the man." What do I file this diamond to be sir ?, for the official records?" We will call it what the natives refer to it as: The Kohinoor.

There were a lot of things that Dalhousie hated; hot weathers, tardiness, fried fish and lying to his men. He had given them a sense of comfort and triumph , he had justified the insolent act of staying away from their families, opening themselves to unknown diseases and risking their lives for a throne that didn't respect their existence. He would rob the Kohinoor. If not for himself, to prove to the Royalties that they could be put to shame, that they could be cheated and to show them that In India,

the only Real rulers were people like him.