Back in 1854, during the British Colonial rule of India, the then Governor General, Lord Dalhousie, made a rather extraordinary decision. He sent a 15-year-old child from Punjab to England, Prince Duleep Singh, also known as Maharaja Duleep Singh. Lord Dalhousie believed that the child’s mother posed a threat and had an unsavory character, which led to the decision to separate him from his mother.
In England, this young prince underwent a significant transformation as he embraced Christianity and forged a close friendship with Queen Victoria’s son, Edward VII. The British Crown assumed responsibility for him, providing an annual stipend of £50,000. To put this into perspective with today’s inflation, it equates to a remarkable ₹650 million per year.
Prince Duleep Singh was no ordinary boy; he was the last ruler of the Sikh Empire in India. Notably, four years before he was sent to England, in 1849, the British demanded that the 11-year-old Duleep surrender a diamond to Queen Victoria, which happened to be the renowned Kohinoor Diamond. This magnificent gem traveled 6,700 kilometers on a ship from India to London, marking the beginning of its infamous history.
Legend has it that the Kohinoor Diamond comes with a curious superstition known as the “Curse of Koh-i-noor.” The belief is that “he who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes.” Throughout its history, the diamond has been associated with bloodshed, violence, and betrayals, making it one of the most infamous diamonds in history.
Now, we will delve into the intriguing story of the Kohinoor Diamond, tracing its journey from India to England, where it now resides in the Tower of London’s Jewel House. Over the years, there have been numerous demands to return the Kohinoor Diamond to India, but it remains a contentious issue.
There are several theories regarding the diamond’s origin. While some believe it dates back to the time of Lord Krishna, historians generally accept that it was discovered in the Kollur Mines, situated in the Golconda region. Golconda was renowned for its diamond mines, and during the 18th century, it was the world’s sole source for diamonds, until similar mines were found in Brazil in 1725.
However, the exact discovery date of the Kohinoor remains elusive, with historians estimating its origins between 1100-1300. The first documented mention of the diamond was in a Hindu text in 1306, though the text’s name and author remain unknown. In 1526, the first Mughal emperor, Babur, mentioned the diamond in his Baburnama, referring to it as worth half the daily expenses of the entire world. Shah Jahan, in 1628, commissioned the iconic Peacock Throne, on which the Kohinoor and the Timur Ruby were prominently featured.
It wasn’t until 1739, when Nadir Shah of Persia invaded Delhi, that the diamond became part of his loot. Nadir Shah carried away an immense treasure, including the Kohinoor, which he had learned of through an insider’s tip that it was hidden in Mohammed Shah’s turban. The diamond fell to the ground during a proposed turban exchange, dazzling Nadir Shah with its brilliance and leading him to utter “Koh-i-Nur,” meaning Mountain of Light. This is how the diamond acquired its name.
Over the next 70 years, the Kohinoor resided in present-day Afghanistan. The diamond’s grim reputation, known as the Curse of Kohinoor, began to emerge. The belief was that the diamond brought immense power to its owner, yet misfortune would inevitably follow.
While the origin story of the name may be in doubt, it is factual that Nadir Shah bestowed the name Kohinoor upon the diamond. The diamond’s history continued to be turbulent and took various twists and turns.
The journey of the Kohinoor Diamond is steeped in historical intrigue, and its legacy continues to be a subject of debate. Whether it will ever return to its place of origin in India remains a matter of conjecture and negotiation.
As you’ll soon discover, there is some truth to this tale. Misfortune did indeed cast its shadow upon Nadir Shah in 1747 when he was killed by his own guard, leading to the collapse of his empire. Ahmad Shah Durrani, also known as Ahmad Khan Abdali, a member of Nadir Shah’s army, emerged as the founder of a new Afghan empire, along with being the new possessor of the Kohinoor diamond.
Intriguingly, the curse of Kohinoor or perhaps other factors, led to disputes even within the Durrani empire. While Ahmad’s son, Timur, effectively managed the empire, later generations were embroiled in conflicts for the throne. Zaman Shah Durrani, Timur’s son and the third ruler, was subjected to the cruel fate of being blinded with hot needles. Subsequently, Shuja Shah Durrani, the fifth ruler and brother of Zaman Shah, found himself in possession of the Kohinoor.
Shuja Shah Durrani’s wife famously commented on the Kohinoor’s unparalleled value. She likened it to a scenario where a strong man could cast four pebbles in four directions (North, South, East, and West), then toss a fifth pebble into the air. If the space enclosed by these five pebbles were to be filled with gold, the gold’s value would still not match that of the Kohinoor.
In 1809, Shuja Shah Durrani was dethroned and sought refuge in Lahore under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. In exchange for this refuge, Ranjit Singh requested the Kohinoor diamond, and so it became a part of the Sikh empire in 1813.
Kohinoor held significant symbolic value for Ranjit Singh, who had reclaimed the lands previously controlled by the Durrani dynasty. Known as the Lion of Lahore or Sher-e-Punjab, Ranjit Singh wore the Kohinoor on his bicep in an armlet.
In the early 19th century, the grip of the East India Company over India was strengthening. Upon learning of Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839 and his intention to gift the diamond to Hindu priests, the British were deeply concerned. British newspapers of the time were indignant, with one publication describing the diamond as “the richest, most costly gem in the known world, [entrusted] to the trust of a profane, idolatrous, and mercenary priesthood.”
Consequently, the British government directed the East India Company to monitor the whereabouts of the Kohinoor diamond, with the aim of acquiring it for the British treasury.
The British had to be patient, as it took nearly a decade for the opportunity to arise. By 1843, the only contenders for the Punjabi throne were Rani Jindan, Ranjit Singh’s wife, and a five-year-old child, Prince Duleep Singh. Following the conclusion of the second Anglo-Sikh war in 1849, the East India Company put an end to the rule of the Punjab empire.
At the time, Duleep Singh was around ten years old and was made to sign a Treaty of Lahore. According to this treaty, the Kohinoor diamond was to be surrendered to the East India Company. Punjab was the last major state to fall under British control, and after their victory, the British were determined to prevent any resurgence of the Sikh Empire. They imprisoned Jindan and sent Duleep Singh to London, where he was converted to Christianity.
As I mentioned earlier in the chapter, when Duleep Singh was a mere 15 years old, he was transported to London in 1854. During his stay, while his portrait was being painted at Buckingham Palace in July 1854, Queen Victoria allowed him to see the Kohinoor once again. Holding it in his hands, it is said that Duleep Singh uttered the words,
In the later years of his life, Duleep Singh rebelled against the British and sought to return to India, even trying to secure help from the Germans, but his efforts proved fruitless. He passed away under unfortunate circumstances at the age of 55 in Paris, living in poverty.
In contrast, the Kohinoor became a cherished possession of Queen Victoria. Interestingly, the legend surrounding the “curse of Kohinoor” suggested that only a God or a woman could wear it without facing adverse consequences. Consequently, when the British monarchy was passed to a male, the Queen Consort would wear the Kohinoor.
Over the years, with the change of monarchs, the Kohinoor always passed to the reigning Queen, eventually becoming part of the Crown Jewels. It initially adorned Queen Alexandra’s crown, followed by Queen Mary’s. In 1937, it was integrated into the crown worn by the mother of the present Queen of England.
The last public sighting of this crown, with the Kohinoor, was during the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002. Currently, you can find this crown, along with the Kohinoor, in the Waterloo barracks at the Tower of London.
Located within the Jewel House, the Kohinoor has been safeguarded for the past 800 years. Among all the owners throughout its history, the British monarchy holds the distinction of possessing the Kohinoor for a record 173 years.
For many Indians, the Kohinoor diamond carries deep emotional significance. Shashi Tharoor’s memorable 2015 speech at the Oxford Union resonated widely, emphasizing the stark economic decline experienced by India during British colonial rule. He highlighted the economic prowess that India represented when the British first arrived, accounting for 23% of the world economy. However, by the time the British departed, India’s share had dwindled to less than 4%. India had become a primary source of British economic gains, serving as the largest buyer of British goods and exports.
Prime Minister Modi also commended Tharoor’s arguments, shedding light on the economic and prosperity opportunities lost due to British colonialism. Today, the Kohinoor symbolizes this era of British colonial rule. The debate arises from whether the British acquired the Kohinoor through theft from India or as part of a mutually agreed deal.
A year following Shashi Tharoor’s 2015 speech, in 2016, an NGO filed a petition in the Supreme Court, urging the Indian government to seek the return of the Kohinoor from the British government. However, Ranjith Kumar, the government’s representative, argued that the diamond was acquired through the Lahore Treaty, neither stolen nor forcefully taken, making any efforts to retrieve it futile. Subsequently, the Archaeological Survey of India, on behalf of the government, expressed its intent to pursue the return of the Kohinoor through diplomatic channels, distancing itself from Mr. Kumar’s stance.
From a legal perspective, there are no clear grounds for the Kohinoor’s return to India, as the only legal avenue involves the 1970 UNESCO Convention. This convention primarily pertains to cultural property illicitly transported after 1970 and is not retrospective. Moreover, it is unclear which country should be the rightful recipient, given the complex historical border changes and the fact that present-day India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan only emerged as sovereign territories post-independence.
Kohinoor’s fate raises questions about which country it should be returned to. The Taliban in Afghanistan expressed their desire to have it back in 2000. In 2016, a petition was lodged in Pakistan’s Lahore High Court, claiming that the British had taken the Kohinoor from what is now Pakistan, as the capital of the Sikh empire was in Lahore. Anthropologist Richard Kurin suggests that, logically, several countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and even Iran, have valid claims to the diamond. Still, these modern-day nations did not exist at the time of its removal, even though the regions did.
Kurin emphasizes that from both a historical and emotional perspective, it may be best to let go of the Kohinoor permanently. Doing so would serve as a symbolic gesture to prevent the repetition of its dark history and allow it to rest peacefully in its final resting place.
