KOH-I-NOOR – THE MOUNTAIN
OF LIGHT
“Take
a strong man.
Have him throw a
stone northward,
another eastward, the third southward,
the
forth westward, and the fifth upward, into the air.
Fill all the space thus outlined with gold and precious stones but
you will still not have achieved the value of the Mountain of Light”
Wafa
Begum wife of Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk relating to Fakir Nur-ud-din,
; the
valuation put by her ancestors on the Koh-i-Noor.
Two centuries ago Maharaja Ranjit Singh was
responsible for retrieving one of the most unique diamonds the world has ever
seen – the Koh-i-Noor. The year 2013 is significant one for Sikhs too, for
apart from having the distinction of being the only people to move the Afghans
out of Punjab and India,
they also manage to extricate from them a highly prized treasure. The kudos for
this feat rests solely with the Lion of Punjab - Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Having
heard many tales about beauty of the Koh-i-Noor and being a lover of all things
beautiful, be it women, horses, gardens, shawls or jewels, the Maharaja coveted
this priceless stone and was determined to own it one day. Fortune favoured him
and then, quite unexpectedly, an opportunity to do just this, came his way. It
required cunning, strategy and an army to acquire this invaluable gem but
finally, the ruler of Punjab, achieved his
goal and eagerly took possession of it on 1st June 1813. The account
of how he acquired it is as interesting as the history of the Koh-i-Noor
itself.
The Koh-i-Noor
takes its place in the annals of history as one of the most precious and sought
after of gemstones. At one time called The Babur Diamond it was recorded by its
then owner, the Mughal Emperor Babur found the jewel ‘so valuable that a judge
of diamonds valued it as half the daily expenses the whole world’. This
priceless oval shaped gem weighed 186 carats, measured 31.9 millimetres in
length and 36 millimetres in width and was found in the famed but now defunct
diamond mines of Kollur, in Golconda,
Andhra Pradesh. These mines near Hyderabad
produced some of the most fabulous and largest stones the world has seen. The
Great Mughal weighing 280 carats, the Orlov 189.62 carats, Regent 140.50
carats, Sancy 55.23, Pigot 48.63, Hope 45.52 carats, to name a few, each has a
story behind it that rivals the Koh-i-Noor. All these magnificent stones were
known for their purity of colour, clarity and distinctive cut. While cutting,
great care was taken to keep the maximum volume of the stone and its shape
intact. The main characteristics of Golconda
diamonds were that its facets and cullet were specially cut to give the gem a
soft glow so they enhanced the beauty of the wearer and not the other way
round.
What makes the
Koh-i-Noor so sought after was not only its size and beauty but the fact that
its past is linked with so many historical figures and events. Tracing the
background of the Koh-i-Noor is not easy; the interlinking of fact with fiction
along with contradictions makes it difficult to verify the actual truth. The
first reference made to it dates back to 3001 B.C., comes from the epic
Mahabharata, which says that it was worn as a sacred talisman by the legendry
warrior Karna, King of Anga. Another lore; with several versions, links it with
Lord Krishna. At this time the name given to the diamond was Syamantaka Mani
meaning prince and leader amongst diamonds. Nothing was heard about the
Koh-i-Noor till 1306 when the Raja of Malwa was forced to give it up to the
Kakatiya rulers. In 1326, after the Kakatiya Empire fell, it came into the
possession of the Delhi Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughluq. There are also several
references to Ala-ud-din Khilji being its owner. Some sources maintain that the
diamond remained with the Delhi Sultanate till the First Battle of Panipat when
Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur in 1526. The Koh-i-Noor now found its way
into the founder of the Mughal dynasty’s hands. However, the Babur Nama, or the memoirs of Babur
records that in 1526, Raja Bikramjit of Gwalior was holding the city of Agra on behalf of Ibrahim
Lodi against Mughal onslaught. Humayun entering the city took prisoners but
would not let Agra
be plundered. In return, Raja Bikramjit and the city’s grateful inhabitants
‘presented to him a peshkash
(tribute) consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones, amongst which
was one famous diamond which had been acquired by Sultan Ala-ud-din’. Humayun,
in turn, presented this stone to his father as his tribute however, Babur was
so happy with his victory that he gifted it back to his son. Whatever maybe the
true story, the fact remains is that the diamond was passed on to the Mughal
Empire and hence forth referred to as The Babur Diamond.
Each Mughal Emperor
valued the Koh-i-Noor above all other gems in their jewel filled toshakhana (treasure house). The diamond
is written about in Emperor Akbar’s memoirs, the Akbar Nama in superlatives and as being above valuation. For a
while it was set in the famous bejewelled Peacock throne by the Emperor Shah
Jahan. Inherited by each Mughal ruler in turn, it remained in their possession
until the reign of Muhammad Shah Rangila
(the Colourful). Delhi, the weakened capital of
the Mughal Empire was captured in 1739 and ransacked by Nadir Shah from Persia. Legend
has it that Nadir Shah seized the vast collection of jewels from the treasury
including the Peacock Throne but could not locate the Koh-i-Noor. Muhammad
Shah, hoping to save the legendry diamond that had been in is family for
centuries, cleverly concealed it on his person, in fact in his turban. This
ploy worked for a while but eventually, a woman from the Mughal harem hoping to
seek favour with the new conqueror secretly disclosed the location of the
hidden jewel. After devising ways of abstracting the diamond from his prisoner,
Nadir Shah with a great show of diplomacy and camaraderie invited Muhammad Shah
to a magnificent banquet. After the feasting had reached its peak, the victor
suggested they cement their new friendship and brotherhood by an exchange of
turbans. The helpless Mughal Emperor could not do anything but unhappily
comply. Nadir Shah dazzled by the brilliance of this large sparkling diamond
and is said to have exclaimed “Koh-i-Noor!” meaning Mountain of Light.
Appropriately named, it is till today known by this name.
The Koh-i-Noor now left its native soil for
the first time and after transiting through tumultuous times and various
Persian owners, passed into the hands of Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. The
history of the Durrani descendants is a bloody one, causing one to recall the
curse of the Koh-i-Noor which dates back to 1306. A Hindu text of that time
declared ‘He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all
its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity’. The curse
certainly proved true, looking back at its chequered career the diamond is
accompanied by greed, war, blood and treachery, bringing out all the basest of
traits possible in the human psyche. Ahmed Shah was succeeded by his son Taimur
Shah and then his grandson Zaman Shah. The latter was unable hold onto the
throne and was defeated and deposed by his brother Muhammad Shah at Ghazni.
Fleeing to Khaibar with a few valuables including the Koh-i-Noor, the blinded
Zaman Shah hid the diamond in walls of the fort at Ashik. The youngest brother
Shah Shuja managed to raise a body of troops and established himself on the
Afghan throne. It was to him that Zaman Shah revealed the hiding place of the
diamond; it was then dug out and handed over to him. Unable to sustain his hold on the throne,
Shah Shuja fled to northern India in 1811, carrying the Koh-i-Noor with him.
Shah Shuja-ul-
Mulk arrived at Attock as a guest of the Afghan Governor Jahan Dad Khan. However,
on finding Shah in touch with his old enemy Wazir Fateh Khan (Muhammad Shah’s
minister), the Governor had him manacled and sent to Kashmir. His brother Ata Mohammad Khan was the
Governor of Kashmir and he made Shah Shuja his prisoner and kept under close
guard. In the meantime, Shah Shuja’s wife Wafa Begum reached Lahore; hiding the
famous diamond on her person. Fearing for her husband’s life, she begged
Maharaja Ranjit Singh for his help, promising him the Koh-i-Noor in exchange
for her spouse’s safe return. The Maharaja reassured her and had her suitably
lodged and entertained while he planned his strategy. Things began falling in
place for him when Wazir Fateh Khan who had become powerful in Afghanistan,
approached him. He asked for his assistance in overthrowing Ata Mohammad Khan
and capturing Kashmir. Seizing this opportunity, Maharaja Ranjit Singh with his
own plans for Kashmir in mind, sent a force there with strict instructions to
bring back Shah Shuja at all cost. The Kashmir expedition was led by the
competent Diwan Mohkam Chand, assisted by the Governor of Jammu Desa Singh
Majithia, Nihal Singh Attariwalla and Jodh Singh Kalsia, while the Maharaja
himself camped at Rohtas with other generals in readiness. The joint Sikh and
Afghan forces captured Shergarh Fort and while the Wazirs men looted the
treasury, Mohkam Chand searched for Shah Shuja. Finding him fettered and in a
pitiful state, he wasted no time in releasing him and setting forth to
Lahore.
Escorted by
Kanwar Kharak Singh, Shah Shuja entered Lahore amidst great pomp and show. He
became a pensioner of the Lahore Durbar but was treated with great respect and
housed at Mubarak Haveli along with his wife and retinue. Shortly thereafter
the Maharaja sent some of his trusted nobles to the deposed Afghan ruler to
retrieve the promised Koh-i-Noor but it was not forth coming. Numerable excuses
were made; Shah Shuja sent a deputation to the Maharaja declaring that the
diamond was mortgaged for six crore rupees at Kabul. He also declared that if
he were to be given three lac rupees and an annual income of fifty thousand
rupees he would give up the diamond within fifty days. Diwan Moti Ram, Fakir
Azizuddin and others were then sent to get the diamond but the Shah ‘sent by
their hands a large pookraj (topaz) of a yellow colour which the Shah stated to
be the Koh-i-noor’. The Maharaja sent for his jewellers and had the stone
examined; obviously it was declared not to be the ‘Mountain of Light’. The
Maharaja kept the large topaz, but by now quite angry with the excuses and
deception, ordered that the Shah and family be put under restraint. He also
instructed that the Shah and his family were not allowed food or drink till the
promised stone was given up. This situation lasted about eight hours, after which
a very hunble message was sent to the Maharaja to come and take the Koh-i-Noor.
‘On the 29th
Jamadi-ul-awal, (1st June A.D. 1813,) the Maharaja on hearing this,
cheerfully mounted his horse, and accompanied by troops on right and left, and
taking with him a sum of 1,000 rupees in cash, went to Shah Shuja’s haweli. The
Shah received him with great respect and bended the knee to him. The Maharaja
sat down…….. The Shah produced the diamond and gave it to the Maharaja, who
signed an agreement to secure the Shah from further molestation.’ Presents were
then exchanged and Maharaja Ranjit Singh returned to Lahore fort with the
incomparable Koh-i-Noor.
The Koh-i-Noor was the first jewel Maharaja
Ranjit Singh coveted and had to have at any cost, the only jewel he enjoyed
wearing on ceremonial occasions, it was his prized possession. When the
Maharaja received the diamond it was set in an armlet, after wearing it in this
fashion for about three years, he turned it into a sirpesh or turban ornament with a diamond drop weighing about a tolah (eleven grams). Later, the
Koh-i-Noor was reset in a bazuband or
armlet once again, only this time it was set with two large diamonds on either
side. The stones once belonging to Shah Shuja were bought at Amritsar and cost
the Maharaja 100,000 and 130,000 rupees respectively. All three diamonds were enclosed in a
beautiful gold casing intricately decorated with white, red and green enamel.
The main casing itself was shaped like an open lotus flower, with the side ones
being leaf shaped. Though at first glance it looked as if the diamonds were
bezel set, actually delicate prongs secured the stones. To complete this
stunning ornament, rich burgundy cords were attached to the armlet from which
hung tassels of lustrous natural pearls and rubies. The Maharaja enjoyed
showing this breath taking piece of jewellery to special guests who visited the
Lahore court. He was thrilled watching them gaze in amazement at this wondrous
stone, noting its beauty and fire. Truly a one of a kind piece, it was kept in
a crimson lined velvet box at the Moti Masjid toshakhana or treasury.
The end came too
soon for the Lion of Punjab; while he was lying sick in bed just before he
passed away in June 1839 he told his assembled ministers that he would like to
gift the Koh-i-Noor to the Jagannathpuri temple in Orissa. There is some
mention that he wanted to give the diamond to the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar.
However he did ask for it to be brought to him so he could throw holy water on
it, signifying that he had made the behest. Pretending to send for the
Kohinoor, his ministers lied to him by saying it was not at Lahore but in the
royal treasury at Amritsar. They felt it should be kept at Lahore and passed on
to Kanwar Kharak Singh who was the Maharaja’s eldest son and heir.
The Koh-i-Noor
remained at the Lahore Durbar treasury and was worn Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s
successors; Kharak Singh, Sher Singh and Dalip Singh, in turn. The legend goes
that whosoever owns the diamond rules the kingdom; this still holds true, even
today, as we can see. After the annexation of the Punjab, this prized stone
came under tremendous scrutiny; the major objective being to transport it to England as soon
as possible and present it to the Queen. Quite a feather in the cap for the
East India Company! Lengthy discussions took place on how exactly it should be
presented and by whom. Finally it was decided that the young Dalip Singh as the
successor to Maharaja Ranjit Singh would do the honours. In 1851, the 13 year
old ex-Maharaja of Punjab was taken from his native land to England and
made to hand over this prized heirloom that had been in his family for decades.
The Koh-i-Noor was put on display that very same year at the Great Exhibition
in London,
where it was the highlight of the exposition. Apparently, Queen Victoria’s consort Prince
Albert was disappointed with the appearance of the
stone and in 1852 ordered it to be recut. For centuries the unusual cut of the Golconda’s distinguished
it from other diamonds. Appearing like any other large commercial diamond, now
this unique 186 carat jewel retained none its natural characteristics nor
shape, as it was drastically reduced to a mere 105 carats; losing 42 per cent
of its weight. It was first worn by the Queen as a brooch but later set as the
centre piece of the royal crown.
The story of the
Kohinoor would have taken a dramatic turn if Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s dying wish
were carried out. The diamond would not have been a part of the Lahore treasury but kept
safely at the Jagannathpuri temple. Any power, foreign or otherwise would have
found it impossible to remove it from there. We can however celebrate the fact
that over two hundred years ago, a young, diminutive, one eyed, uneducated man,
carved out an Empire for the Sikhs. Also, on the 1st June of this
present year 2013, Maharaja Ranjit Singh accomplished the inconceivable; to get
back to this country one of its most prized treasures - The Koh-i-Noor.
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