The Koh-i-Noor (from Persian KOH-in-OOR, for ''Mountain of Light''), also spelled Kohinoor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing 105.6 carats (21.12 gm). However, the earliest well-attested weight is 186 carats or 38.2 gm. Although the origin of the Kohinoor has many theories, that include claims of it appearing in Sanskrit and even Mesopotamian texts as early as 3200 BC or it being in the possession of the Rajas of Malwa for generations prior to 1304 AD. However, it is widely accepted that the stone is a Golconda diamond, possibly mined in the Kollur Mine in India, during the period of the Kakatiya dynasty (1163-1323 AD). Let us trace its documented travel of more than seven centuries (about 718 years)
Alauddin Khilji. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire wrote that it was Alauddin Khilji who acquired the diamond, not yet called the Kohinoor, when he invaded southern India in 1303-1304 AD and looted it from the Kakatias. He was an emperor of the Khilji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1296 to 1316 AD.
Babur. In 1526, Babur received it as a tribute for his conquest of Delhi and Agra at the Battle of Panipat. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, Sultan of Delhi in 1526 AD, and founded the Mughal Empire.
Shah Jahan. (1628 to 1635 AD). He was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. He decided to use many of the jewels in his treasury to make the ornate Peacock Throne in 1635 AD, which had the Kohinoor.
Nader Shah. In 1738 he invaded India. He was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran. With nearly 10,000 wagons of loot, valued over millions of rupees, Nader Shah carried away the Peacock Throne. It is here on the head of one of the peacocks on the throne that Nader Shah's biographer Muhammad Maharvi first records seeing the Koh-I-Noor in 1740 AD. It is alleged that Nader Shah exclaimed Koh-i-Noor or ''Mountain of light'' in Persian when he saw the stone. After Nader Shah was killed and his empire collapsed in 1747, his grandson became the owner of the Kohinoor.
Ahmad Shah Durrani. In 1751 AD, Nader Shah's grandson gave the Kohinoor to Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Afghan Empire, in return for his support.
One of Ahmad Shah's grandson, Shuja Shah Durrani, wore a bracelet containing the diamond on the occasion of Mountstuart Elphinstone's visit to Peshawar in 1808. Shah Shuja was overthrown, and he fled with the diamond to Lahore, where Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire, in return for his hospitality took possession of it in 1813.
Ranjit Singh. He used to wear the diamond in the front of his turban and paraded it on an elephant to enable his subjects to see the diamond. He would exhibit it to prominent visitors, including the British officers.
Gulab Singh. After several years of turmoil following Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, Gulab Singh, Raja of Jammu, who was Prime Minister Dhian Singh's brother became the owner of the diamond, and held on to the stone until January 1841, when he presented it to Emperor Sher Singh in order to win his favour. The diamond changed hands several times and finally, the five-year-old Duleep Singh became the Sikh Emperor, after three of the older sons of Ranjit Singh were killed in quick succession and thus Duleep Singh became the new owner of the diamond.
Duleep Singh. Was the youngest son of Ranjit Singh and the last ruler of the Sikh Empire. The Kohinoor was fastened to the arm of the child emperor in court at Lahore. He and his mother Jind Kaur had till then resided in Jammu, the kingdom governed by Gulab Singh. After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, at the age of 15, he was exiled to Britain where he was befriended by Queen Victoria. He died at 55, living most of his years in the United Kingdom.
Duleep Singh, VS 1902-1903, AD 1845-1846, Rupee, silver, weight 11.1 gm, Obverse: Leaf and frozen date VS 1885, Reverse: Banner upwards VS 1903, lettering 193.
Queen Victoria. The Kohinoor was formally presented to the queen on 03 July 1850 at Buckingham Palace. The date coincided with the Company's 250th anniversary.
Queen Victoria wears the Koh-i-Noor diamond as a brooch in 1887
In 1852 re-cutting of the diamond was carried out. Originally, it had 169 facets and was 4.1 centimeters (1.6 in) long, 3.26 centimeters (1.28 in) wide and 1.62 centimeters (0.64 in) deep. After spending 8,000 Pounds, and about 450 hours, the weight was reduced from 186 old carats (191 modern carats or 38.2 gm) to its current 105.6 carats (21.12 gm). The stone measures 3.6 cm (1.4 in) long, 3.2 cm (1.3 in) wide and 1.3 cm (0.5 in) deep and has 66 facets.
Queen Alexandra. After Queen Victoria's death, the Kohinoor was set in the crown of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, at their coronation in 1902. The diamond was transferred to Queen Mary's Crown in 1911, and finally to Queen Elizabeth's Crown in 1937. The crown, which has a platinum frame set with 2,800 diamonds, has a front cross holding the Kohinoor in a detachable platinum mount. The Crown Jewels are valued between 10 and 12 billion dollars.
It was set on Queen Elizabeth's coffin in April 2002, marking the crown's last public appearance. It now lies in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.
In May next year, during King Charles III's coronation, Queen Consort Camilla may or may not adorn the controversial Kohinoor, as many debates taken place regarding its ownership.
The Kohinoor has long been a subject of diplomatic controversy with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran claiming ownership and its return from the UK.
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