Written by: Neharika Panta - 23028, Grade XII
Posted on: 16 February, 2023
The Kohinoor is a 105-carat diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world. It is said that this diamond was extracted from a mine in India during British rule. The meaning of Kohinoor is, ‘the mountain of light’. It passed through several Mughal and Persian rulers in India, and eventually it was taken over by British rule, and added to their treasury, when the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, declared Queen Victoria Empress of India in 1877.
The story of the world's rarest and most prized diamond 'Kohinoor' reaching the crown of the Queen of Britain extends from Kurukshetra of Mahabharata to the hut of a people in Golconda. In addition to historical events, many stories and legends are also prevalent about where the unique Kohinoor came from in the world, which is crowned by the Queen of Britain. This diamond has been a witness to many wars, intrigues, greed, bloodshed, and victory and defeat. The Kohinoor diamond is the king of all the gems in the world. There is no certified information about the birth of Kohinoor, but the first mention of Kohinoor was found 3000 years ago. Its relation is said to be from the Shri Krishna period. According to the Puranas, it was Swayatak Mani who was later called Kohinoor. Describing the value of the diamond, Babar said that it is the most valuable and expensive gem, whose price is almost half the value of a day's income in the whole world.
The Kohinoor issue is very much discussed. While India is trying to bring it back, the British government is also adamant about not returning it. The governments of both countries are looking for a solution for the right decision. In April 2016, a petition was filed by India to return Kohinoor from Britain. On this, the Indian Cultural Minister, Shri Mahesh Sharma has said, ‘the issue of Kohinoor will be resolved at the earliest.’ Regarding Kohinoor, some people of India believe that Kohinoor was given to the United States by the Government of India, offered in its half form. During the petition on Kohinoor in the Supreme Court, the Indian lawyer said that the British government did not forcefully snatch Kohinoor from Ranjit Singh, but Ranjit Singh had voluntarily presented Kohinoor to the British government as compensation for the war.
