Whenever the name Kohinoor comes to mind, it reminds us of the deep regret that it was once India’s diamond but is now in the possession of England. Kohinoor has its own history, filled with numerous tales about its journey to England. Before reaching England, the diamond was owned by several kings. Today, only a few people are aware of Kohinoor’s legacy.
An interesting fact about the Kohinoor is that it was never bought or sold. This diamond has always been either given as a gift or won in battle. Did you ever know who the real owner of the Kohinoor diamond was?
The Kohinoor was discovered 800 years ago in India, in the coal mines of Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district. The diamond originally weighed 186 carats, but it has been cut multiple times, losing some of its weight. Despite this, it is still considered the largest carved diamond in the world. The first known owner of the Kohinoor was the Kakatiya Rajvansh. The Rajvansh family placed the diamond in the left eye of Bhadrakali, whom they worshiped as their dynasty’s Goddess.
In the 14th century, Alauddin Khalji seized the Kohinoor from the Kakatiya dynasty. During the battle of Panipat, Mughal emperor Babur captured the Red Fort of Delhi and Agra, and also took possession of the Kohinoor. Later, Iranian ruler Nader Shah acquired the diamond after defeating the Mughal Emperor. Nader Shah named the diamond ‘Kohinoor,’ which means ‘Mountain of Light.’
Nader Shah’s grandson, Shahrukh Mirza, gifted the Kohinoor to the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani. However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh later took possession of the diamond from Shah Shuja, and the diamond finally returned to India.
In 1849, a battle took place between the Sikhs and the British, leading to the end of Sikh rule. After the battle, the British Army took possession of the Kohinoor from Maharaja Gulab Singh and presented it to Queen Victoria. In 1850, the diamond arrived at Buckingham Palace, where it was set in the Queen’s crown. Since then, the diamond has remained in London, and India has been attempting to reclaim it.
