“It represents colonization and bloodshed, give it back to India” - Narinder Kaur, Indian-origin Journalist.
A legacy carried by a gemstone is truly a chapter in history and modern politics. Koh-I-Noor/Kohinoor, is translated into English as the ‘Mountain of Light’. This diamond allegedly claimed to be ‘given’ by Maharaja Duleep Singh to Britain after their war with the Sikhs, traditionally was said to have originated during the lifetime of Lord Krishna dated back to 5000 years ago. Other historical claims find its origin to be from Golconda, Andhra Pradesh. India was once the only country where diamonds were found before Brazil in the 1800s.
The discovery of the Kohinoor Diamond still remains a mystery. Mughal Ruler Babur in his written record, Baburnama first mentioned the diamond emphasizing its glory. Kohinoor, to him, was a diamond that is worth ‘half of the world’s daily expenses’. Generations later, ruler Shah-Jahan adorned this diamond as the eye of the peacock on his throne which cost much more than the Taj Mahal. Iranian ruler Nadir Shah a century later invaded New Delhi, defeated Mughal Emperor Mohammed Shah and stole many gems including the Kohinoor which according to legends was named by him.
This diamond then remained in now-Afghanistani territory for nearly 70 years and juggled between various rulers in battles. A curse that surrounds this stone is that despite owning the whole world, the ruler who owns this diamond will also face grave misfortunes in his life. This is drawn from an unnamed hindu text from 1306 which claims that only a woman can wear it with its impunity. This has come true to a limit. For instance, Nadir Shah who seized this diamond was assassinated by his own security guard which led to the fall of the empire. Even the successor of Shah, Shah Rukh was tortured with molten gold poured over his head in search of Kohinoor’s whereabouts by Nadir Shah’s general Ahmad Shah Durrani who coincidentally also died tragically with a cancerous wound growth on his face. Durrani’s grandson was blinded by his own father for desiring the diamond. These incidents are often cited towards the legend of ‘The Blood Stained Acquisition of Kohinoor’.
One of the other grandsons of Durrani, Shuja Shah Durrani fled to Lahore after being dethroned from his kingdom along with Kohinoor. In Lahore, he sought asylum from Sikh Ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In a negotiation between the two parties, Shuja Shah agreed to give Kohinoor to Ranjit Singh in exchange for asylum in 1813. The Sikh Ruler, known as the Lion of Lahore won all the Afghani lands owned by Durrani, whilst he adorned this diamond on an armlet.
Post Maharaj’s death, the plan was set to provide the gems and Kohinoor to a sect of Hindu priests. British rulers were irresistibly attracted to the diamond, to them, a symbol of power and colonial prestige rooted in seeming superior to the colonies. They were furious upon learning this decision. An anonymous editorial also mentions the British interest in this matter:
“The richest, most costly gem in the known world, has been committed to the trust of a profane, idolatrous and mercenary priesthood”
The only people in line to rule after his death was Ranjit Singh’s wife, Rani Jindan and a small boy, his son, Prince Duleep Singh (later Maharaja Duleep Singh). 1849 saw the end of the Punjab Empire in the Second Anglo-Sikh war. After this defeat, the 10 year old King Duleep Singh was made to sign the Treaty of Lahore to surrender the diamond to the company on behalf of the then- Queen of England, Alexandrina Victoria, most commonly known as Queen Victoria. In hopes of seeing no Punjabi retaliation sprout up, the British put Rani Jindan behind bars and sent the young King to London leading to his conversion into Christianity. Duleep Singh, his wife and his child died due to acute poverty later on.
In 1951, The Great Exhibition saw ridicule from the British citizens' reaction to Kohinoor. It appeared, to them, simply like ‘a piece of glass’ and never understood why it had so much value. Seeing this reaction, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, polished and tried to restructure the diamond in order to make it appear more luminous. This step unfortunately led to the diamond losing 40% of its weight. The curse of this diamond intimidated and eerily stepped into the minds of the ruling Elite. Thus, it was decided that no man shall be allowed to wear the Kohinoor, and that only the female consort of the King or a Queen shall be given the right. Currently, it is located in the Tower of London’s Jewel House. Because of the Treaty of Lahore, it was claimed as a legal transfer and not a ‘loot’, again a word stolen from the Indian dictionary.
“The sheer ignorance of how making a small child sign a deal so crucial automatically claims it to be legal due to the signature being that of a ruler, only in technical terms, is worth a thousand rounds of sarcastic applause.”
It is truly still in debate on whether the diamond will yet again find its place back to its roots or not, even after so many years. However, its ultimate destiny is still entangled in a geopolitical conundrum.
The girls are talking. Get in the conversation.