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UNThe Koh-i-Noor, meaning “Mountain of Light” in Persian, is one of the most famous and controversial diamonds in history. Believed to have been mined in India over 700 years ago, it originally weighed around 793 carats before being cut down over centuries. The diamond passed through the hands of powerful rulers—from Indian dynasties to Mughal emperors like Babur and Shah Jahan—before being taken by the Persian ruler Nader Shah, who gave it its iconic name.
Later, the Koh-i-Noor came under Sikh rule with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and after the British annexation of Punjab in 1849, it was handed over to the British Crown. Today, it sits in the British Crown Jewels, set in the crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, displayed in the Tower of London.
What makes the Koh-i-Noor legendary isn’t just its brilliance, but its curse—a belief that it brings misfortune to any man who possesses it. For this reason, it has traditionally been worn only by women in the British royal family. Even now, the diamond remains a symbol of power, conquest, and an ongoing debate about history, ownership, and colonial legacy.
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