Mystery of Kohinoor | Curse of World's Most Famous Diamond | Dhruv Rathee

Dhruv Rathee・2 minutes read

Lord Dalhousie sent 15-year-old Prince Duleep Singh from Punjab to England due to concerns about his mother's character, leading to his conversion to Christianity and friendship with Queen Victoria's son, Edward VII. The Kohinoor Diamond, taken from Duleep Singh by the British Crown, remains part of the Crown Jewels, sparking debate over its ownership and whether it should be returned to India, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.

Insights

  • Prince Duleep Singh, after being sent to England by Lord Dalhousie, converted to Christianity, befriended Queen Victoria's son, and received an annual stipend of £50,000, highlighting the significant impact of British colonial control over Indian royalty and culture.
  • The Kohinoor Diamond, steeped in history dating back to the Mughal era, underwent significant transformations under British rule, losing weight and being embedded in the Crown Jewels due to fears of its curse, raising questions about ownership and the legacy of British colonialism in India.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Curse of Koh-i-noor?

    Misfortune believed to affect owners of the diamond.

  • Where is the Kohinoor Diamond currently housed?

    Tower of London's Waterloo barracks in the Jewel House.

  • Who discovered the Kohinoor Diamond?

    Discovered in the Golconda region.

  • What is the significance of the Kohinoor Diamond in British history?

    Symbolizes British colonialism in India.

  • Why is the return of the Kohinoor Diamond a complex issue?

    Historical borders and ownership disputes complicate the issue.

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Summary

00:00

"Prince Duleep Singh and the Kohinoor Diamond"

  • In 1854, Lord Dalhousie sent 15-year-old Prince Duleep Singh from Punjab to England due to concerns about his mother's character.
  • Prince Duleep Singh converted to Christianity in England and befriended Queen Victoria's son, Edward VII.
  • The British Crown took responsibility for Prince Duleep Singh, providing him with an annual stipend of £50,000, equivalent to ₹650 million today.
  • In 1849, Lord Dalhousie ordered 11-year-old Duleep Singh to surrender the Kohinoor Diamond to Queen Victoria after the defeat of the Sikhs in battle.
  • The Kohinoor Diamond traveled 6,700 km to London and is associated with the Curse of Koh-i-noor, believed to bring misfortune to its owners.
  • The Kohinoor Diamond was discovered in the Golconda region, with the first written mention dating back to 1526 by Babur, the first Mughal emperor.
  • Nadir Shah named the diamond Kohinoor, and it passed through various rulers, including the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjith Singh.
  • After the British took control, the Kohinoor Diamond was recut and polished in 1852, losing 40% of its weight and reducing to 105.6 carats.
  • Due to fear of the Curse of Kohinoor, the British Royal Family decided that only Queen Consorts would wear the diamond, leading to its inclusion in the Crown Jewels.
  • The Kohinoor Diamond remains a part of the Crown Jewels, embedded in the crown since 1937.

13:38

"Kohinoor Diamond: Symbol of British Colonialism"

  • The Kohinoor diamond, along with the crown worn by the Queen Mother of England, is currently housed in the Tower of London's Waterloo barracks in the Jewel House. The British monarchy has owned the Kohinoor for the longest period in its 800-year history, and it symbolizes British colonialism in India.
  • Shashi Tharoor's 2015 Oxford Union speech highlighted the economic losses suffered by India due to British colonialism, with Prime Minister Modi praising his arguments. A petition filed in 2016 urged the Indian government to demand the return of the Kohinoor from Britain, but legal challenges and the 1970 UNESCO Convention complicate the issue.
  • The question of returning the Kohinoor to India, Afghanistan, or Pakistan is complex due to historical borders and the lack of clear ownership. Various countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran, could lay claim to the diamond, but the emotional and historical significance of the Kohinoor suggests it should remain where it is to avoid repeating its dark past.
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