Queen Elizabeth II dies, but makes India richer by one notch

When Queen Elizabeth II, the world's second-longest ruling monarch who left for heavenly abode at the age of 96 on last Thursday has gifted India with the fifth largest economy. It was last week only when the country surpassed the UK and joined the top five economies of the world. Now, there lies a lot more ahead for the Indian economy which has set its gun on joining top three economies of the world over next few years.

Officially, India declared a day of mourning, too. But, large sections of the Indians wondered if there was a need to revere the head of a state that had unleashed large-scale repression, even famine, on the country and impoverished the land.

The Queen was the first British monarch to accede to the throne after India's Independence from colonial rule in 1952 and admired the 'richness and diversity' of India where she made three State Visits over the course of her reign – in 1961, 1983 and 1997. In 1961, the Queen and her husband, the late Prince Phillip – Duke of Edinburgh, toured Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata – then Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta – and also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi.

Interestingly, news of the Queen's demise came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had renamed Rajpath to Kartavya Path. Rajpath, commonly understood to mean Kingsway after its eponymous avenue in London, was in the post-Independence decades symbolic of those who govern India; Rajpath crossed Janpath, where the paths of power and people met. Within hours of changing the name to supposedly throw off the last vestiges of colonialism, the Prime Minister was paying heartfelt homage to the head of that colonial empire.

The Queen's demise is also being mourned by Mumbai's famed dabbawalas, who operate a globally renowned lunchbox delivery and return system that supplies hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work. Mumbai Dabbawala Association has had a very close relationship with British Royal Family ever since Prince Charles visited India.

The death of Britain's longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II has rekindled social media chatter demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond to India. With her son Prince Charles succeeding to the throne, the 105-carat diamond, which is steeped in history, will go to his wife Duchess of Cornwall Camilla, who has now become Queen consort. Kohinoor, which means 'Mountain of Light', is a large, colourless diamond that was found in southern India in the early 14th century. The precious gem, which came into British hands during the colonial era, is the subject of a historic ownership dispute and is claimed by at least four countries, including India.