Another controversial discussion from The Daily Mail is in conversations these days that includes the world famous diamond, Koh-i-Noor. The name comes from Persia meaning “Mountain of Light” and refers to astounding size. The Koh-i-Noor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world weighing 105.6 carats and is part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
Origin of the Koh-i-Noor:
The Koh-i-Noor originated from the subcontinent thousands of years ago. According to popular beliefs, the stone was said to carry a curse. Before making its way to the British jewels, the Koh-i-Noor traveled through the courts of India and later ended up with the Britishers.
For centuries, India was the only source for the world to get diamonds until 1725, when the Brazilian gold mines were discovered. Even the world’s oldest texts on the study on gems come from India. The Turk-Mongol leader Zahir Uddin Babur came to central Asia through the Khyber Pass to invade India in 1526 and to establish the Islamic Mughal dynasty. The Mughals ruled the region of northern India for around 330 years.
The Koh-i-Noor’s origin dates back to the time from when it first came to the possession of Mughals when in 1628, Shah Jahan commissioned a gemstone engraved throne. Among many other stones, two were adorned the most; Taimur Ruby, particularly because the Mughals preferred coloured stones and the Koh-i-Noor.
When in the 19th century the British East India Company expanded its control into the sub-continent, they claimed many natural resources and trading posts as well as the precious stone, Koh-i-Noor. There were several fights for the possession of the stone making it a symbol of power rather than beauty. For the Britishers, however, it was a symbol of prestige and power as if they could own the jewel of India as well as the country, it would show their colonial superiority and power to the whole world.
Who own’s the Koh-i-Noor now?
As the stone is now a part of the British Crown Jewel, with Queen Elizabeth’s demise it would be ascended to the new emperor, King Charles III but he might still not acquire it. According to popular beliefs and Hindu folklore, the Koh-i-Noor is to bring bad luck to the King and therefore it would not be a part of the King’s crown but would be possessed by his wife, Queen Consort.
