Koh-i-Noor : Tracing the bloody diamond & why the British won't return it back

The queen mothers crown with the Koh-hi-Noor diamond at the center. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Koh-i-Noor is said to be one of the oldest diamond and certainly one of the most famous diamonds in the world. The history of the diamond can be traced more 5000 years ago. "Koh-i-Noor" is a Persian term which translates to "Mountain of Light". Legend follows that the gem must only be worn by a god or a woman, a man who wears it shall only face misery and bad luck. Those who possess the gem shall own the world. In the past, battles have been fought over the diamond and for about 4 countries have argued about who shall keep it now. The bloodiest diamond has travelled its fair share of locations and it is worth tracing how the gem has travelled.

Sayamantaka

To 1500 :

The diamond finds its first mention in a Sanskrit script, where it was termed the 'Syamataka'. There is speculation that the Koh-hi-Noor and the Syamataka are one and the same. The diamond finds its next mention in historical texts that suggest that it was in the possession of the Rajas of Malwa. But back then the diamond was still not named as the Koh-hi-Noor. In 1306 in Hindi writing, a curse is placed on the men who will wear the diamond: “He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity.”


With Babur, 1526 :

Babur
 c2.staticflickr.com/6/5259/5540499621_a33fb6f0d6_b.jpg

The Koh-hi-Noor finds it first verified mention in the Baburnama, a Mughal text written for the Mongol ruler Babur. Babur had got hold of the diamond by defeating Ibrahim Lodhi, in the first Battle of Panipat (open link to find more). The gem was then passed on as inheritance to Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and finally fell into the hands of Sultan Mahamad, the grandson of Aurangzeb.






With Nadir Shah, 1739 :

Nadir Shah on the Peacock throne, the jewels included the Koh-hi-Noor. (Wikimedia Commons)

In 1739, wanting to capture the throne, Nadir Shah went to India. The empire had been weakened under Sultan Mahamad who was not such a bold and firm leader like his predecessors. The Sultan lost the battle and surrendered to Nadir Shah. It was Nadir Shah who gave the gem its meaning of "Mountain of Light".

With Ranjit Singh ,1813 :

Ranjit Singh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Singh

Shah goes back to Persia and is assassinated after 8 years. The gem is then passed on to one of the generals of Shah, namely Ahmad Shah Durrani. Ahmad's decedent, Shah Shuja Durrani brings the diamond back to India in 1813, after escaping from his quarrelling brothers back home. He then gives it to Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh empire. Ranjit Singh had asked Shah Shuja's wife about the diamonds worth to which she had replied : "If a strong man were to throw four stones, one north, one south, one east, one west, and a fifth stone up into the air, and if the space between them were to be filled with gold, all would not equal the value of the Koh-i-Noor.”




The British, 1849 :

Crest of the British East India Company

Ranjit Singh expires in 1839. 5 year old Duleep Singh takes the throne after quick succession becoming the last Indian sovereign to own the Koh-hi-Noor. The British sensed that by owning the jewel of India, they shall own the country itself. It would symbolise their status and power as colonial rulers. The British learned of Ranjit Singh's death and his plan to pass on the gem to a sect of Hindu priests. To this the British press exploded in outrage.  On 20 October 1839, a letter appears on Era, a popular British newspaper which says : “The richest, the most costly gem in the known world, has been committed to the trust of a profane, idolatrous and mercenary priesthood." The author wanted the British East India company to do everything in its power to get hold of the gem for the British Empire. Finally in 1849, the British force a 10 year old Duleep Singh to sign a legal document amending the treaty of Lahore and giving away the Koh-i-noor and renouncing all claim to sovereignty.

Special possession of Queen Victoria, 1852 :

(Wikimedia Commons/Alexander Bassano)

The gem is taken to England and later showcased for the public at the Great Exposition in London. Later, reports came in of 'disappointment' from the British public. “Many people find a difficulty in bringing themselves to believe, from its external appearance, that it is anything but a piece of common glass,” mentioned The Times in June 1851. Given the feedback, Prince Albert (husband to Queen Victoria) sent the gem to be polished, a process that has said to have reduced its weight by 42% from 186 carats to 105.6 carats. Well done indeed, Britain.
After hearing of the myths behind the diamond, Queen Victoria later mentions in her will that the gem should only be worn by a female queen. Queen Victoria wore it as a diamond brooch but eventually the diamond became part of the British crown jewels.





Ever since :

In spite of claims by India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The jewel still resides in the United Kingdom. British historian, Andrew Roberts has stated : “Those involved in this ludicrous case should recognise that the British Crown Jewels is precisely the right place for the Koh-i-Noor diamond to reside, in grateful recognition for over three centuries of British involvement in India, which led to the modernisation, development, protection, agrarian advance, linguistic unification and ultimately the democratisation of the sub-continent". Yeah alright Mr.Roberts.
By thinking of it this way, What if the Nazis had stolen a famous piece of Jewish art. Everyone would be in favor of returning it back,wouldn't they? Yet the same is somehow not applied for India where the diamond was looted from. However it is also true that objects that have travelled such lengths as the Koh-hi-Noor has, create a difficulty of ascertaining the legitimate ownership. Unravelling colonial history is a daunting task indeed. Perhaps the best thing that can be done without causing much trouble would be that Britain give a clear message about the diamond's history & legacy and not teach its folks that it was a gift from India to Britain, which it clearly was not.

For more information refer to the book titled "Kohinoor: The Story of the World's Most Infamous Diamond" by William Dalrymple. Google Books : https://books.google.co.in/books?id=KPVrDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Does Britain owe India any reparations? A sensible argument by Indian MP Mr.Shashi Tharoor at Oxford Union Society.