The Koh‑i‑Noor which literally means“Mountain of Light” is one of the world’s most famous diamonds. But its gleaming surface masks a legacy steeped in conquest, betrayal, and controversy. Unearthed centuries ago in India, this gem has crossed empires, continents, and cultures. Each chapter more dramatic than the last.
A Glittering Timeline
13th–14th century – Origins in South India
While myths vary, many historians believe the rough diamond—over 180 carats uncut—was mined near Guntur, in present-day Andhra Pradesh. Some say it first belonged to the Kakatiya dynasty.
Early 1300s – Into Delhi Sultanate hands
Alauddin Khilji reportedly seized the diamond during his southern invasions. There’s even speculation linking it to a gem taken from Raja of Malwa in the 1300s.
16th–17th century – Among the Mughals
Babur mentions the famous stone in his memoirs, and under Shah Jahan, it adorned the legendary Peacock Throne, settling at the crest of its jewel‑laden peacock.
1739 – Looted by Nader Shah
Persian conqueror Nader Shah loots Delhi, claiming the throne, and the diamond. Upon beholding it, he allegedly declares,“Koh‑i‑Noor”, the name that stuck.
The Kohinoor on the crown (HT)
1747–1813 – Travels through Afghanistan
After Nader’s death, Ahmad Shah Durrani, then Shah Shuja, come to possess the diamond. Shah Shuja flees to Punjab, taking the gem with him.
1813–1839 – Held by Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Shuja gifts the Koh‑i‑Noor to the Sikh ruler in exchange for protection, and assistance reclaiming his throne. Ranjit Singh proudly wears it on his turban during grand parades.
1839–1849 – Turbulent Sikh succession
After Ranjit Singh’s death, political chaos envelops Punjab. In 1849, following the Second Anglo‑Sikh War, the Treaty of Lahore forces the ten‑year‑old Maharaja Duleep Singh to surrender the stone to the British Crown.
1850–1851 – To Britain, and the Great Exhibition
The gem sails to England—lost briefly during transit before arriving in July 1850. It’s displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851, but critics mock its dull cut.
The Kohinoor on various nobility (Exotic India)
1852 – A controversial makeover
Prince Albert commissions a drastic recut to improve brilliance. The gem shrinks from around 186 old carats to today’s 105.6, gaining dazzling shine, but losing more than half its weight.
1902–1937 – Dynastic crowns
The re‑cut Koh‑i‑Noor is featured in the crowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and ultimately the Queen Mother, whose crown it adorned during her funeral in 2002.
1947 onward – Demands, and resistance
Upon Indian independence, New Delhi officially requests its return, not just once, but repeatedly over decades. The UK rebuffs these appeals, citing both legal, and logistical reasons .
2023 – A symbolic gesture
King Charles III, and Queen Consort Camilla exclude the stone from the coronation crown—an acknowledgment of its fraught legacy, though not a step toward repatriation.
A Gem of Power, and Pain
At each turning point, the Koh‑i‑Noor has been more than a gem. It’s been a symbol of conquest—from the Mughals’ zenith to British imperial pride. Its recut, often seen as progress, was a form of violence, erasing not only the physical weight, but centuries of cultural significance.
Today, lies the diamond in the Crown Jewels, sparkling at the Tower of London. Yet to truly shine, we must reckon with its dark chapters. Its presence is not a celebration; it is a question lodged in history.
The Mountain Still Casts Shadows
The Koh‑i‑Noor is a masterpiece of nature, but its legacy belongs to human ambition. It has been cemented on imperial crowns, paraded as a sign of power, and caught in diplomatic crossfire. Yet, for many South Asians, it remains a symbol of loss. Being colonized, reshaped, and reframed.
Will the Koh‑i‑Noor ever return to its motherland? Will Britain confront the moral weight of colonial loot? Or will this“Mountain of Light” remain a cold reminder of a darker time? Ultimately, its brilliance is hollow unless history is told honestly, restitution is considered, and lessons are learned, so that light, at last, can shine free of shadows.
