I jibed at thieves within country: Ushna Shah responds to flak on her coronation jewels statement

Actor clarified that she was questioning the corrupt ruling leaders of the country, and not supporting colonisation

Queen Camilla adorned herself with the renowned “Coronation Necklace,” also infamously known as the Lahore Necklace, during the crowning ceremony of King Charles III on Saturday, May 06, at Westminster Abbey.

While all locals could talk about was how the grandeur and the jewels are all stolen from the subcontinent, actor Ushna Shah “joked” about how the necklace is better off with the colonisers than our corrupt leaders – because in her opinion, at least, this way, we can see the imperial legacy showcased on TV. Her sarcastic comment on corruption and political theft in the country did not sit well with people.

Shah, on Monday, took to Twitter with a picture of the diamond necklace, and wrote, “Had all the stolen jewels remained in the subcontinent, especially on our side, would they really have remained the property of the state and protected in a museum?” She continued, implying that the jewels are “safer” with the British royals saying, “At least this way we get to have another reason to wag our fingers at the colonisers whilst getting to see our heritage in all its glory on TV. Had they not colonised us in the first place, perhaps these treasures would have remained safe and intact but that’s another conversation.”

Had all the stolen jewels remained in the subcontinent, especially on our side, would they really have remained the property of the state and protected in a museum? At least this way we get to have another reason to wag our fingers at the colonisers whilst getting to see our… pic.twitter.com/KsYl6yXmFK

— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) May 8, 2023

The Habs actor’s statement was heavily criticised by social media users on the micro-blogging site with many schooling her about why nothing makes colonisation okay. “No. This way those jewels aren’t ours. This way, they belong to our colonisers who carried out multiple atrocities on our lands and then had the audacity to steal jewels from us only to showcase them as their own – as a symbol of their monarchy. which oppressed us,” a user wrote. Another questioned who brainwashed Shah. “What happened to Ushna? She used to be on the right side of issues,” read the tweet.

After severe backlash, Shah edited her tweet and called colonisation “a sad reality” but that didn’t change anything since her point still justified theft and oppression in the same way. More flak came her way. “Rule of thumb: If it comes from Ushna, it’s wrong,” wrote a user while another tweeted, “She wakes up every day and decides which absolutely shit take will get people talking about her.” A user even tried to make her understand how even if Lahoris chose to “decorate public toilets” with the diamonds, it still would’ve been their choice because it’s their diamonds.

A sad reality in my opinion: Had all the stolen jewels remained in the subcontinent, especially on our side, would they really have remained the property of the state and protected in a museum? At least this way we get to have another reason to wag our fingers at the colonisers… pic.twitter.com/4GG1m5tUNP

— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) May 8, 2023

A tweep remarked how Shah would never apply the same logic if her house gets robbed. “Would you still say your things are safer with the thieves?” they asked. Many couldn’t fathom how, despite editing her tweet thrice, the Parizaad actor managed to stick to her “coloniser-obsessed” mindset.

To which, Shah gave an explanation for her “joke.” She tweeted, “I was joking. Humans do that,” and started giving pointers to justify her previous tweet(s). “1. Colonisers are terrible, no question about it. Hence, I called them ‘colonisers’ alongside the hashtag Coronation 2023. 2. My tweet was a tongue-in-cheek jibe at the thieves within the country,” she wrote, adding that the emojis she used should have been “enough” to suggest she was being sarcastic.

Guys, I was joking. Humans do that.
Case and point:

1. Colonisers are terrible, no question about it. Hence I called them “colonisers” alongside the hashtag coronation2023.
2. My tweet was tongue in cheek jibe at the thieves WITHIN the country.
3. The 👀 emoji and the dot…

— Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) May 9, 2023

She further added, “Had we not been colonised in the first place, our political structure would not have been destabilised and filled with corruption, and we may have still had a monarchy or at least a respectable governance which would have ensured a well-preserved heritage,” she wrote. “But because they destabilised us, the jewels would have disappeared from sight had our oppressors not plundered when they left (which, again, doesn’t make the plundering okay. Just a remark on the corruption here). And a dry joke on the fact that “at least they’re in sight.’”

Concluding, Shah commented how even if her opinion was “a pro-monarchist statement,” she didn’t deserve “personal attacks, ridiculing and name-calling” over a remark about diamonds that were stolen hundreds of years ago.

In 1851, the Lahore Diamond was “presented” to Queen Victoria after British colonisers gained control of the area in 1849. It then became part of Queen Victoria’s collection of jewellery, according to the Royal Collection Trust. Of course, the term ‘presented’ is highly debatable.

The diamond necklace — comprising a total of 26 diamonds, including a 22.48-carat pendant — has been passed down through generations of the British Royal family. The Independent reported that this exquisite piece of jewellery has also been worn during coronations in 1902, 1911, 1937, and 1953.

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