Koh-i-noor - a lost property or a colonial swindle?

The most famous diamond in the world, the Kohinoor or Padshahnama, was found in the Godawari River in South India some 4,000 years ago. It was long reputed to give its owner the crown and rule of the world. At the same time, its possession was supposed to be a hazard to the life of the man who owned it. The curse did not apply if the owner was a woman.

At the time its recent history began in the 14th century, the Kohinoor weighed 186 carats and was clumsily cut. It had been owned for several hundred years by the Raja of Malwa (now in Madhya Pradesh). When the Moghuls conquered India in 1526, the stone was taken to the treasury at Delhi. It remained there until 1739, when the ruler of Persia, Nadir Shah, invaded India, took Delhi, seized the treasures of the Indian capital, and took the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah prisoner. His systematic pillage of the city failed to uncover the huge stone, but then he was told by one of the harem women that the conquered Mogul emperor had hidden it inside his turban. Taking advantage of an Oriental custom, Nadir Shah invited his captive to a feast and suggested they exchange turbans. Retiring from the feast, he unrolled the turban and released the great gem. Seeing it he cried “Koh-i-Noor!” (Mountain of Light). He also took the fabulous Peacock Throne with him, was reportedly one of the most splendorous thrones ever made.

Nadir Shah returned to Persia with his trophy, but he was assassinated soon afterward. His son and heir was overthrown by rebellion. Arrested, tortured, and blinded by his enemies, he refused to reveal the hiding place of the Kohinoor. When the king of Afghanistan came to his rescue, the dying son of Nadir Shah, soaked in his own blood, handed him the Kohinoor.

The king took it back to Afghanistan. Years later his grandson Zaman was deposed, imprisoned, and blinded by his own brother but managed to hide the Kohinoor under the floor of his cell. Eventually he escaped with the gem and took refuge at Lahore. There he was received by Ranjit Singh, "Lion of the Punjab," who treated him with great respect but insisted that he give up the Kohinoor. Singh had the diamond set in an armlet and wore it. At his death in 1839 it went into the Lahore treasury. It was still there when the Punjab was annexed by the British.

In 1849 it was taken by the British East India Company as partial indemnity after the Sikh Wars and was presented to Queen Victoria. At the time, its value was estimated at $700,000. In 1851 Victoria decided to recut the Kohinoor. This undertaking required 38 days at a cost of $40,000 and the extraordinary stone was reduced to 108 carats. In 1911 a new crown was made for the coronation of Queen Mary with the KOH-I-NOOR as the center stone. In 1937, it was transferred to the crown of Queen Elizabeth (now Queen Mother) for her coronation. It is now on display with the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

Today, the Kohinoor is still part of the British crown jewels and is on display in The Tower of London.