Who won Kohinoor diamond?
The legendary Kohinoor diamond, once the largest known diamond in the world at 793 carats (158.6 g) has a complex history spanning centuries, with ownership claimed by multiple dynasties across South Asia as well as Persia. This fascinating gem has been the subject of myth and legend through the ages. So who won the Kohinoor diamond? In 1849, the diamond was ceded to Queen Victoria and the British after the annexation of the Punjab in India. But India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have disputed and claimed ownership of the Kohinoor over time.
The myths and legends behind the Kohinoor
The Kohinoor diamond is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. According to legend, it was mined in India over 5000 years ago, weighing an astounding 793 carats. The name Kohinoor means “Mountain of Light” and comes from the Persian language.
An ancient Hindu text, the Skanda Purana, talks about the Syamantaka gem being worshipped by Krishna and Radha. Some historians believe this refers to the Kohinoor diamond. Numerous myths surround the stone, including some linking it to Krishna, others to mention it glowed like a lamp and its shadows showed the future.
Another famous story describes the Kohinoor acquiring its dazzling brilliance after being owned by India‘s golden bird, the Garuda. There are tales of the stone being protected by Hindu priests and temples where it was kept for centuries. Legends talk about bloody wars, deceit, greed and murder over gaining possession of the Kohinoor through the ages.
Possessing the Kohinoor diamond has been seen as bringing power and prosperity to its owner. But there is also mention of a supposed curse from a Hindu goddess that the Kohinoor would only bring good fortune to a woman owner. Over its history, the Kohinoor diamond passed through the hands of both men and women.
How the British acquired the Kohinoor in 1849
The Kohinoor diamond was discovered in Kollur mines, near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh during the Kakatiya dynasty‘s rule in the 14th century. Later, Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji took it in the 14th century. It was then owned by subsequent Turkic and Afghan rulers of India over the centuries.
In 1739, Iranian ruler Nader Shah invaded northern India‘s Mughal Empire and acquired the Kohinoor along with the Peacock Throne as spoils of war. It was then passed down through the Afghan Durrani dynasty rulers and Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who acquired the Kohinoor in 1813.
Finally, it passed to the hands of 10-year old Maharaja Duleep Singh during the Sikh empire‘s collapse. In 1849, after defeating the Sikhs in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British pressured the young king to sign the Treaty of Lahore to surrender the Kohinoor to Queen Victoria.
The Governor-General of India Lord Dalhousie had the Kohinoor diamond escorted by British troops to surrender to Queen Victoria. Despite accounts of it being voluntarily "gifted" to the Queen, historians agree the diamond was taken as a spoil of war during British rule over India.
Rival claims and disputes over the Kohinoor
As the Kohinoor originated from India over five centuries before the British seized it in 1849, India has the strongest legal claim for its return. However, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have also claimed ownership of the Kohinoor at various points.
In 1976, Pakistan demanded the return of the Kohinoor diamond as compensation for Britain‘s partition of the Indian subcontinent. The premise was that the gem should be returned to the succeeding state of the Punjab region where it was surrendered. However, their claim is not considered credible compared to India‘s.
The Taliban government of Afghanistan also made a claim for the Kohinoor in 2000, under the assertion that the gem was rightfully theirs from 1722-1813. Iran has periodically claimed the diamond too, arguing it was taken from Persia in 1739 after Nader Shah‘s invasion. But again, evidence indicates the diamond was mined and proved to be from centuries earlier in India.
Among the various claims, India‘s historical claim is the strongest. The diamond originated there over 500 years before British annexation of the Punjab and the 1849 treaty. India continues making repeated demands for its return, most recently in 2016 and 2020.
The Kohinoor‘s immense value
The Kohinoor is an incredibly rare golconda diamond, originally over 793 carats uncut. After being re-cut to enhance its brilliance on the orders of Queen Victoria, it now weighs 105.6 carats and measures 3.6 cm x 3.2 cm x 1.3 cm.
Valued at over $200 million in today‘s market, it is literally priceless due to its status and history as the most famous diamond in the world. No price can be attached to the Kohinoor due to its unique legacy. Besides its exorbitant financial value, its cultural meaning is even more significant.
Why the Kohinoor must be returned
The Kohinoor belongs to India. Plundering the cultural artifacts and heritage of colonized nations cannot be justified by any argument. The diamond is an integral part of India‘s history that needs to be returned to reclaim a tragic aspect of the colonial past.
The UK has faced repeated demands to return the Kohinoor to India for over 50 years. Other colonial powers like France and Germany have returned disputed artifacts taken in the colonial era, and South Africa returned diamonds and gold artifacts to the original tribes they belonged to. The moral case for returning the Kohinoor is strong.
The 1849 Treaty of Lahore was signed by a minor king under duress, and legal experts question whether it would be valid under modern law. The diamond‘s passage to Queen Victoria after British annexation of Punjab has all the indications of colonial loot rather than a legal transfer of ownership. Even at the time, many criticized taking the Kohinoor diamond as an act lacking honor.
Returning the Kohinoor can begin healing and energize relations between British and Indian societies. While non-binding, UNESCO and other bodies have passed numerous resolutions for returning disputed cultural artifacts to originate countries as a gesture of goodwill and rectifying past wrongs.
The UK should consider returning the Kohinoor not just on historical and legal grounds, but simply because it is the right thing to do.
In my view, the diamond belongs with the people of India. The Kohinoor bears an immense cultural significance that transcends financial valuations. Returning the diamond can be an act of friendship and signal a new relationship between Britain and India as modern partners.