The Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the largest and most valuable diamonds in the world, has a long and complex history. Believed to have originated in India, specifically in the Kollur Mines of the Golconda region, the diamond was first mentioned in a Hindu text in 1306. It was later owned by various rulers, including the Mughal Empire and the Sikh Empire, before being seized by the British East India Company in 1849.
The diamond was taken to England and presented to Queen Victoria, who had it recut and polished, resulting in a significant loss of weight. The Koh-i-Noor became part of the British Crown Jewels and was passed down through generations of British monarchs.
The diamond is now housed in the Tower of London, where it remains a popular tourist attraction. However, its ownership is still disputed, with India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran all having legitimate claims to the diamond. The Indian government has made attempts to recover the Koh-i-Noor, but the British government has refused to return it, citing the diamond's historical significance and its status as a cultural artifact.
The story of the Koh-i-Noor is also shrouded in legend and superstition, with many believing that the diamond is cursed, bringing misfortune and tragedy to its owners. Despite its complex and often tumultuous history, the Koh-i-Noor remains one of the most famous and iconic diamonds in the world, a symbol of the wealth and power of the ancient empires that once owned it.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. In 1854, Lord Dalhousie sent a 15-year-old child from Punjab to England.
2. The child was Prince Duleep Singh, also known as Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh Empire in India.
3. The British Crown took responsibility for Prince Duleep Singh, and he was given an annual stipend of £50,000.
4. In 1849, Lord Dalhousie ordered Prince Duleep Singh to surrender the Kohinoor Diamond to Queen Victoria.
5. The Kohinoor Diamond was taken from India to Britain and became the jewel of the Queen's crown.
6. The Kohinoor Diamond is kept in the Tower of London's Jewel House.
7. The diamond is believed to have been discovered between 1100-1300.
8. The first written record of the mention of Kohinoor was in 1526 by the first Mughal emperor Zahirudin Babur.
9. The Kohinoor Diamond was found in the Kollur Mines in the Golconda region.
10. The diamond was named "Koh-i-Nur" by Nadir Shah, which means "Mountain of Light".
11. The Kohinoor Diamond was taken by Nadir Shah from the Mughal Empire in 1739.
12. The diamond was later owned by the Durrani Empire and then by the Sikh Empire.
13. In 1849, the East India Company ended the rule of the Punjab empire, and the Kohinoor Diamond was handed over to the East India Company.
14. The British Royal Family decided not to give the Kohinoor to a man, and it was worn by the Queen Consort instead.
15. The Kohinoor Diamond was recut and polished in 1852, which reduced its weight by 40%.
16. The diamond is now about as big as a chicken's egg and weighs 105.6 carats.
17. The British monarchy has been the owner of the Kohinoor Diamond for the longest period in its history.
18. Many Indians feel emotional about the Kohinoor Diamond and consider it a symbol of British colonialism.
19. In 2015, Shashi Tharoor gave a speech at the Oxford Union about the economic and prosperity potential lost by India due to British colonialism.
20. In 2016, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of India to demand the return of the Kohinoor Diamond.
21. The Indian government's representative in court stated that the diamond was a part of the Lahore Treaty and was not stolen or taken forcefully.
22. The Archaeological Survey of India said that they would try their best to get back the Kohinoor using friendly ways.
23. The 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property is the only legal route for the return of the Kohinoor Diamond.
24. However, the convention cannot be applied retrospectively, and the cultural heritage taken before 1970 does not have to be mandatorily returned.
25. The question of who should the Kohinoor Diamond be returned to is complicated, as several countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran, can claim ownership.