‘Give back the Kohinoor’: Kerala woman schools British tourists, they reply, ‘we’ll talk to King Charles’

‘Give Back the Kohinoor’: Kerala Woman’s Blunt Reply Leaves British Tourists Speechless

Two British travellers exploring Kerala got a history lesson they weren’t expecting, from a local woman who did not mince her words when the topic of England came up.

What began as a casual roadside chat soon turned into an “awkward” moment about Britain’s colonial past, leaving the tourists, Emma and Alex Wanders, both surprised and reflective.

‘English People Have Looted Us’

Emma and Alex were visiting Kerala when they struck up a conversation with a woman sitting by the roadside. On hearing that they were from England, she smiled and shot back, “English people have looted us in India — treasure, black pepper, everything.”

Before the stunned tourists could respond, the woman continued, “Kohinoor is a precious and rare diamond you have looted from here. Give it back to India.”

Trying to lighten the moment, Alex replied, “But they did build a good railway system,” prompting nervous laughter. One of them added jokingly, “We’ll speak to King Charles and let you know,” while the other quipped, “You’ll have to speak to my ancestors.”

Watch the Viral Moment With a Historical Edge

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A post shared by Emma ✈️🌏 UGC | BANGKOK 🇹🇭 | Backpacking South East Asia✨ (@discoverwithemma_)

Emma later uploaded the clip to Instagram, calling it “one of the most awkward moments” of their India trip. In her caption, she wrote, “We were just standing there in Kerala when this lady asked where we were from… and the second we said England, she started telling us how the British looted India — the jewels, the spices, everything.”

She added that while the encounter was uncomfortable, it also made them think deeply:

“We know where that anger comes from, and we completely get it. What happened during colonial times was awful, and the more we travel, the more we realise how long the shadows of colonialism still are.”

Emma admitted that they tried to laugh it off but reflected on how such reminders of history linger across generations.

Internet Reacts: ‘She’s 100% Right’

Once the clip went viral, it sparked lively discussions across social media platforms, with users from both India and the UK weighing in.

One user commented, “She’s 100% right. The British Museum is a trophy cabinet for stolen colonial treasures.”

Another wrote, “Nothing to return, it’s okay. We’ve still built our country — that’s the power of India.”

A few others praised the woman’s candour, with one user saying, “Most Indian people aren’t angry enough. I applaud these women.”

The exchange, humorous yet poignant, has reignited online debates around colonial reparations and the return of historical artefacts like the Kohinoor diamond — showing how echoes of the past still shape conversations in the present.