Raghav Chadha Demands Return Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Golden Throne From UK: A Dive Into Its History

AAP leader Raghav Chadha highlighted in Rajya Sabha the demand for the UK to return Maharaja Ranjit Singh's golden throne, a 19th-century artefact symbolizing India's rich heritage and history. Currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the throne is a significant piece of Punjabi and Sikh culture.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha called for the return of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's 19th Century golden throne from the UK.

On Wednesday, significant issues were highlighted during Special Mentions in Rajya Sabha.

Photo Credit: X-@IndiaHistorypic

Symbol of Maharaja's Court

The throne, crafted by renowned goldsmith Hafez Muhammad Multani between 1805 and 1810, symbolises the grandeur of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's court. Unlike European royal furniture, which is often gilded to mimic gold, this throne is covered in thick sheet gold and heavily ornamented.

Its base features two tiers of lotus petals, a symbol of purity and creation used in Hindu and Sikh traditions, as reported by Times Of India. Raghav Chadha urged the government to negotiate with the UK to retrieve the golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. T

aking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Chadha wrote, "Today in Parliament, I demanded the repatriation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji's royal throne currently placed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. I urged the Govt of India to press into service its diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom for the same."

History of the Throne

The British East India Company seized the throne during their annexation of Punjab in 1849. The contents of the Sikh treasury, including this throne, were taken during this period, as per TOI reports. While the throne was sent to London for display in the East India Company museum on Leadenhall Street, other artefacts like jewellery, silver furniture, and courtly weapons were auctioned off in Lahore.

After the dissolution of the museum's collections in 1879, the throne was transferred to South Kensington Museum, now known as Victoria and Albert Museum. Chadha emphasised that Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule united Punjab and promoted secular values, justice, equality, cultural heritage, and good governance.

Incorporating Values into Textbooks

"His legendary rule united Punjab, promoted secular values, justice, equality, cultural heritage and good governance. I also demanded that we incorporate the incredible legacy and contributions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji to our history, in our school textbooks so that students can learn about his journey and good governance," he added, as per media reports.

Chadha also suggested incorporating Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s values into history textbooks. This would help students learn about his contributions to justice and good governance, as per media reports. The demand for reclaiming such historical artefacts highlights ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage. The golden throne remains a significant symbol of India's rich history.