Kohinoor: The Story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand A Review
- polsodepthindu
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
Introduction
In 2021, when I and my peers were in 10th class, the final exams were cancelled due to the pandemic, and we were promoted to the higher class. Unexpectedly, we found ourselves out of the clutches of the dreadful fear of the exams. The mind, now, veered, driven by curiosity, in whichever direction it chose. It was in these circumstances that I landed on the much-fabled and notorious gemstone–the Koh-i-noor, the Mountain of Light. Perhaps, after reading ‘The Last Mughal’ by Dalrymple, I was so impressed by the Mughal opulence, of which the Kohinoor was a prized possession, that I could not help but delve deep into the enthralling history of this diamond. Seeking books on the subject, I coincidentally (and delightfully) stumbled upon a book on Kohinoor by William Dalrymple himself, which he co-wrote with Anita Anand—Kohinoor: The Story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond.
The Book and The Jewel
The Kohinoor is among the many other things of which we talk and hear a lot but, ironically, don’t know much about. Every time the diamond is brought out of its safe haven in the London Tower, the Indians go wild in their vociferous demand for restitution of the diamond to its roots, here in India. Everyone indignantly voices their detest at the perfidious way in which the British appropriated the diamond. But very few would know the exact details of the saga, let alone the convoluted and gauzy history of the diamond spanning across a large part of medieval Asia where culture, chicanery, conquest, and colonialism commingle. If your curiosity is not aroused by its history, the fact that you don’t know much about it makes a compelling case to pick up this book.
The book is divided into two parts. The first one, written by William Dalrymple, deals with the history when the diamond was with the Mughals, the Persians, the Afghans, and finally the Sikhs. The second one, written by Anita Anand, focuses upon how the Kohinoor took a place of prominence in the British royal family, symbolizing prestige and power.
I was really delighted to see that before taking you to the subject matter, Dalrymple first apprises you of gemology, a truly fascinating portion of the book. He then goes on to recount the story of the Kohinoor from its obscure origins in the Golconda mines of Southern India to its final handover to its current holders—the British—through the treaty of Lahore in 1849 signed by Maharaja Duleep Singh. In the process, we are acquainted with how the diamond was acquired and lost by its many owners, often bringing misfortune with it. Dalrymple punctuates the story with many apocryphal yet widely believed anecdotes that are central to the appeal and notoriety of the diamond.
In one of the anecdotes, the diamond was almost lost. Before one of his ablutions for daily prayers Mughal emperor Humayun, apparently, removed the purse holding the diamond from his person and later when he finished, he forgot to collect it. This was very typical of Humayun, who is said to have been a blissfully unguarded person. The purse, with the precious diamond in it, was brought to him by his servant. With hindsight, one can imagine that if the diamond were to have been lost, then it would have never risen to the levels of fame (or infamy!) that it has in modern times. Stories such as this one keep the bland historical narrative alive and engrossing, something at which Dalrymple is very adept.
What is intriguing and which dawns upon you later is that you get to know about the medieval history of the subcontinent in a really captivating manner. The story of the diamond serves as a proxy for a seemingly insipid (but is it, though?) history of the region, especially for the people who are averse to reading history. In this way, then, the book emerges as a model to make history interesting and thus more popular.
In the second part of the book, Anita Anand chronicles how the Kohinoor became a part of the family of British royal jewels. From its mildly disappointing reception, where it was thought that it is not as bright as it should be, to eventually being set in the crown of the Queen Mother Elizabeth I, the British part of the story is equally arresting. The tale that emerges informs the reader as to how tangible cultural heritage from conquered lands was appropriated and resignified, weaving a portrait of British invincibility in the process.
Concluding Words
The style is easy-flowing and does not overwhelm you with facts and footnotes. You will love the book whether you are a history buff or not.
The book is, indeed, an astonishing foray into explaining the gripping hold of Kohinoor over popular imagination despite it not being the largest or the perfect diamond that there is. Emerging after reading this, one not only discovers the mystical history of the Koh-i-noor but also the special place that it holds not only for the people of India but also of Iran and Afghanistan, places where the diamond spent considerable time in its peripatetic existence. The writers consummate the book with reflections upon how far it is possible and desirable for the Kohinoor to be brought back to its “roots”. And, if at all, whose claim is or should be considered legitimate?
REFERNCES
Kohinoor: The Story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand is available on amazon.in and in bookstores.
ABOUT WRITER
Roshan S. Dhotre is a second year student pursuing BA (Hons.) Political Science at Hindu College, University of Delhi. He is an avid reader and a sincere admirer of all literature, including English and Marathi, spanning both fiction and non-fiction.
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