Koh-i-Noor Precious Jewel of India

The early history of this Jewel is not known. However, according to Hindus, before the Mughal Emperors owned it, it belonged to the Pandus whose legends remain one of the cyclops of Roman mythology. Many believe that it was presented to Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan by the Amir Jamla, who was one time a Jeweller and afterward formed the diamond mines in the Deccan, and this Koh-i-Noor had a great influence in making him a wazir. Some are of the view that it was found at the Golconda mines about the year 1550 and when rough it said to have weighed 900 carats. The French traveller, Tavernier, who saw the Koh-i-Noor in the possession of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, ornamenting his small throne gives its weight as 420 carats. He further says that the largest diamond in Europe is in the crown of Russia, and weighs 194 carats only. (One carat is equal to the 150th part of an ounce troy).

This history of Koh-i-Noor that how it came in the possession of Nadir Shah, the King of Persia, then to the possession of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and untimately to the possession of Queen Victoria of England, is quite interesting. Nadir Shah had heard about the fabulous wealth of India and his greed was excited. He invaded India and after winning battles on the way reached Delhi in March 1739. During his two months stay in Delhi looted countless booty including Koh-i-Noor diamond and then carried it to Persia, where it became the property of Ahmad Shah Abdali, when Nadir Shah’s test was plundered after his murder. Ahmad Shah Abdali died in 1773 and at that time Punjab formed a part of the Afghan dominion. The successors of Abdali weakened themselves in their internal conflicts and greatly facilitated the rapid growth of Ranjit Singh’s dominion. Shah Shuja, the grand son of Ahmed Shah Abdali, occupied the throne of Kabul in 1800 but was finally ousted from power. In his efforts to recover the throne of Kabul, Shah Shuja solicited Ranjit Singh’s help and came to Lahore in 1813.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh had his only eye on the precious stone Kohi-i-Noor and offered a Jagir to Shah Shuja is lieu but his begum declared that the said stone had been pledged to a saraf for a loan of money. Ranjit Singh was intelligent enough not to be imposed upon this shallow pretext and to prevent the jewel being sent away ordered strict guard around the Shah’s house and resorted to harsh measures to bring the unlucky Shah to confession. On seeing the Shah not detected by such means Ranjit forwarded some letters purported to have been written by Shah to Fateh Khan in Kabul inviting him to invade Punjab to liberate him. In consequence to this Shah was informed that he was to be taken to Gobindgarh as state prisoner. On this Shah demanded two months time to redeem the jewel from the saraf which Ranjit granted to him. Shah fearing death invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh on the last day of the two months to come and receive the diamond. The Maharaja was received with dignity peculiar to him and remain seated silently for an hour. Maharaja become impatient and asked his attendant to remind the Shah of the purpose of his visit. Shah did not make any answer but beckoned to Eunuch who brought a small pocket and laid the jewel on the carpet spread between them. Having satisfied Ranjit Singh took possession of the jewel and instantly left the place without speaking a word even saluting the Shah.

In 1814 the Shah succeeded in sending his brother and Begums to Ludhiana in disguise and then soon after made his escape and joined them where the East India company allowed them Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 20,000/- per years respectively.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh suddenly died of a paralytic stoke in June 1839. He was succeeded by his imbecile son, Kharak Singh. On November 5, 1840, Kharak Singh die and the reign of his capable son Nao Nihal Singh also ended the same day while returning home from the cemetery after performing funeral rites of his father by the fall of an archway of the Lahore Fort. The following years witnessed intrigue and murders. The English were closely watching the happenings in the Punjab and they finally declared war is December, 1845 which ended in February 1846. Sikh army was defeated and Peace Treaty was concluded between Maharaja Dalip Singh, a minor son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the East Indian company. This peace treaty did not last long and second Anglo-Sikh war was fought in 1848-49. Finally the Sikh army was defeated and Punjab was annexed. The Maharaja Dalip Singh was pensioned off, all state property confiscated to the company, the celebrated diamond, the Koh-i-Noor surrended to the Queen of England on 24th March, 1849. This is how the Koh-i-Noor passing through many hands finally reached England.

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