The stolen diamond- By Simran Khatri, Hampton High

The “Kohinoor”- which translates into “mountain of light” from Persian- is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world at 105.6 carats, weighing approximately 21.12 grams.

The Kohinoor is currently under British ownership as it is part of the British royal crown jewels and is being displayed in the tower of London. The diamond has acquired the reputation of being fatal if worn by a man- as it was men who used to fight over the diamond when it was in India. It is said that it can cause great harm and possibly death to any man who wears it. Therefore, the diamond has only ever been worn by royal women while under British ownership. First, it was worn as a brooch by Queen Victoria, then it was later implanted into the crown of Queen Alexandra, and then finally into the crown of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Kohinoor is a Golconda diamond- rumoured to have been mined from the Kollur mines in India. Legend has it that it first belonged to the Kakatiya dynasty. But then, the diamond was later acquired by the Sultan of Delhi- an Afghan invader by the name of Alauddin Khilji. The loot which Nader Shah stole from Delhi also included the Kohinoor.

At one point, the diamond had been traded to Ahmad Shah Durrani- who was the founder of the Durrani empire and once considered the King of Afghanistan. Later the diamond was traded back to India by Shah Shujah Durrani- Ahmad Shah’s grandson.

The diamond was given to the ruler of the Sikh empire- Maharajah Ranjit Singh.

British occupation of the Kohinoor began when Queen Victoria invaded Punjab and made Maharajah Duleep Singh surrender the Kohinoor to the British crown.

In modern times, the governments of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have claimed ownership of the Kohinoor since India and Pakistan gained independence from the British raj in 1947.

However, the British claim that they obtained the gem legally through the last treaty of Lahore which claims that the diamond must be surrendered to the Queen and that it is rightfully hers.

The Kohinoor’s history belongs with India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan but the law claims it is rightfully under the ownership of the British crown.

What do you think?