Kohinoor diamond which museum is kept

At the turn of the 19th century, the British East India Company expanded its territorial control from coastal cities to the interior of the India subcontinent. After decades of fighting, the diamond returned to India and came into the hands of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh in , whose particular affection for the gem ultimately sealed its aura of prestige and power.

For the British, that symbol of prestige and power was irresistible. If they could own the jewel of India as well as the country itself, it would symbolize their power and colonial superiority. It was a diamond worth fighting and killing for, now more than ever. Its author urged the British East India Company to do whatever they could to keep track of the Koh-i-Noor, so that it might ultimately be theirs. But the colonists were first forced to wait out a chaotic period of changing rulers.

At the end of the violent period, the only people left in line for the throne were a young boy, Duleep Singh, and his mother, Rani Jindan. And in , after imprisoning Jindan, the British forced Duleep to sign a legal document amending the Treaty of Lahore, that required Duleep to give away the Koh-i-Noor and all claim to sovereignty. The boy was only 10 years old. From there, the diamond became a special possession of Queen Victoria.

It was displayed at the Great Exposition in London, only for the British public to be dismayed at how simple it was. The diamond came to its current place of honor in , at the front of the crown worn by the Queen Mother, wife of George VI and mother of Elizabeth II. The crown made its last public appearance in , resting atop of the coffin of the Queen Mother for her funeral. Still shrouded in myth and mystery including a rumor that the diamond is cursed one thing is clear when it comes to the Koh-i-Noor: it sparks plenty of controversy.

Among other disputes over famous artefacts, Greece has for many years called for the return of the Elgin Marbles, removed from the Parthenon some years ago and taken to London by the Earl of Elgin. One expert on the Crown Jewels said, by definition, all diamonds produced before the midth Century were of Indian origin since no other country mined them.

The historical case for repatriating the diamond to India was not particularly "sensible", she said, and it was "very unlikely" to happen. What's on your mind? Start a conversation, not a fire. Post with kindness. Post Comment. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website.

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