If we look back to the history, the perplexed story on Kohinoor’s ownership doesn’t say anywhere that it was gifted, and is quite complex.
The precious gemstone, Koh-i-Noor’s possession is controversial for years. While the Britishers are blamed for stealing the valuable gem from India, the Indian government has given up on the possibility of getting it back by saying that, it has not been taken by the Britishers deliberately, rather gifted.
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Whereas, Pakistan also demanded the return of the Kohinoor diamond from Britain, to their country. Hard to digest, Isn’t it? That’s why we have made this short article to make you aware of the history of Kohinoor diamond quickly. If we look back to the history, the perplexing story on Kohinoor’s ownership doesn’t say anywhere that it was gifted, and is quite complex.
First found in a mine near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, India.
The first owner of the diamond was Kakatiya dynasty of South India.
In 1310 army of Alauddin Khilji made a successful raid on Southern India, when he possibly acquired the diamond.
It later passed to the succeeding dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate, until it came into the possession of Babur.
Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, had the stone placed into his Peacock Throne.
While in the possession of Aurangazeb, it was cut by one of his worker so clumsy that he reduced the weight of the stone from 793 carats (158.6 g) to 186 carats (37.2 g).
In 1739, during the invasion of Delhi by Nader Shah (Persian Empire), the treasury of the Mughal Empire was looted by his army, and he managed to obtain the famous stone.
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After the assassination of Nader Shah in 1747, the stone came into the hands of one of his generals, Ahmad Shah Durrani, who later become the king of Afghanistan. Abdali invaded India seven times from 1748 to 1767.
Later it became the property of Shah Shujah Durrani, who was the descendant of Ahmad Shah. In June 1809, he was overthrown by his predecessor Mahmud Shah and went into exile in India, where he was captured.
In return for his freedom, he handed the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and gained his freedom. This incident took place in Lahore.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, willed the diamond to the Hindu temple of Jagannath in Puri, in modern-day Odisha.
During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh army was defeated, and the East India Company seized the Koh-i-Noor and other assets of the Maharaja.
On 1st February 1850, the jewel was sealed in a small iron safe and was then sent to England for presentation to Queen Victoria.
The Queen decided to give the diamond fine reshape and in 1852, the diamond was taken to the Dutch jeweler who cut it to 108.93 carats.
Queen Victoria wore the diamond occasionally and decided that Kohinoor should belong to a female queen only. Even if the head of state was a man, his wife would have to carry the diamond.
After Queen Victoria’s death, the gem became a part of the crown jewel and is still incarnated in Queen’s crown.
As you know now, the history of the Kohinoor diamond is both fascinating and baffling.
To whom does Kohinoor actually belong? Share your opinion in the comment section below.
