The Kohinoor is revered as one of the world's largest diamonds, with its history wrapped in tales and myths that predate the present era by centuries. It has perpetually been a topic of fascination and intrigue. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the discourse arose over where the Kohinoor would reside. In parallel, another splendid gem, kin to the Kohinoor, captures attention: the Daria-i-Noor.
While the bloody history and stories of Kohinoor have ensnared people for ages, a new mystery has emerged. The Daria-i-Noor, dubbed as Kohinoor's sister, is a 26-carat diamond shrouded in layers of enigma.
The Daria-i-Noor: A Priceless Jewel Locked Away
According to Bangladesh's Business Standard, the Daria-i-Noor, much like the Kohinoor, is a gem without parallel, believed to be safeguarded in a vault somewhere within Bangladesh. Supposedly, it rests securely in a treasury belonging to the country's Sonali Bank.
The Daria-i-Noor, ensconced within Bangladesh, has never been photographed. Its tale may not match the Kohinoor's renown, yet is laden with intrigue, missteps, tragedies, betrayals, and schemes. An alleged heist around six years ago sent shockwaves through government institutions, prompting a swift convening of relevant authorities.
Source: aajtak
Historic archives depict this 26-carat diamond reminiscent of a rectangular tabletop, set sturdily within a golden arm cuff. Adorned by ten smaller diamonds, each weighing around five carats, it is believed this treasure hailed from the same South Indian mine as the Kohinoor.
The Enchanted Journey of Daria-i-Noor
The narrative of Daria-i-Noor intertwines with Punjab's Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the jewel's one-time owner, who adorned both as arm pieces. As colonial powers arose, disarray followed, shifting the diamond's ownership across territories and lands.
Sharing its trajectory with its sibling, Daria-i-Noor was dispatched from Lahore to Queen Victoria by Punjab's last royalty, Duleep Singh. Before being sent to India, it graced London during the Great Exhibition, later acquired by the Nawab Khwaja Alimullah in 1852 at an auction price of 75,000 taka.
How Daria-i-Noor Found Its Way to Bangladesh
In 1908, drowning in debt, Nawab Salimullah pawned both Daria-i-Noor and his vast holdings. Ultimately, the diamond transitioned from the Imperial Bank of India to the State Bank of Pakistan and finally to Bangladesh's Sonali Bank vaults.
The Perpetual Mystery of Daria-i-Noor
Bangladesh's Business Standard tackled the lack of transparency surrounding Daria-i-Noor. Its current whereabouts remain uncertain – either ensconced within Sonali Bank or elsewhere. Extensive research uncovered replicas, visuals speaking louder than words in their depiction.
The Elusive Image of Daria-i-Noor
The diamond's likeness remained unpublished until featured in the London News illustration in 1951. Although additional sketches surfaced, no authentic image exists. The earliest known depiction hails from Hungarian artist August Schefft's painting in 1841, depicting Ranjit Singh's descendant cradling the diamond.
The storied jewels Kohinoor and Daria-i-Noor, exalted among the world's most valuable diamonds, are filled with regal rivalries over ownership. The magnitude of a ruler's diamond collection quintessentially carved his repute.
Across changing hands and eras, names evolved yet remained steadfast. Another narrative suggests Ranjit possibly termed his precious as Daria-i-Noor, now synonymous with an extant 182-carat gem in Iran's Central Bank.
In May 1922, Afghanistan's Princess Fatima introduced a diamond named Daria-i-Noor in a New York auction, claiming it was the world's second-largest. Meanwhile, a tabletop diamond purportedly belonging to Nadir Shah was presented in Amsterdam in 1763, later depicted in a Dutch publication as the Shah Jahan diamond.
Source: aajtak
Unfolding the Tales Behind Daria-i-Noor
The nomenclature of these diamonds was signposted to showcase a collection housing two of the world's greatest diamonds. Possibly, Hamilton & Company in India offered a more authentic version of Daria-i-Noor, then under British colonial trust.
It remained with them until India's independence, the tale reaching King George and Queen Mary during their January 1912 visit to Calcutta. King George noted prior awareness of this gem, which failed to captivate Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria's Undeniable Disregard
The diamond caught the attention of then Viceroy Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin at a Nawab residence in Calcutta. In her book "Our Viceregal Life in India," Lady Dufferin detailed its flat profile, noting why Queen Victoria left unimpressed by it.
A Journey Back from England
J.B. Woods of India's foreign ministry penned a letter in 1912 describing plans to reacquire Daria-i-Noor from England, displaying it to royal guests, citing a contested valuation beneath £1,500.
Under Hamilton's curation into 1948, the diamond, lauded for its purity, lay embedded in an enameled gold base, with strings of pearls enhancing its splendor.
A Nawab's Last Buy From British in Dhaka
Historically, the 26-carat diamond was safeguarded by Maratha rulers until bought by Hyderabad's minister Nawab Siraj-ud-Mulk’s kin for 130,000 taka, eventually reaching Punjab's Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Upon British supremacy, it entered England, traced back to Nawab Alimullah in Dhaka.
Entrusted to Bangladesh's Sonali Bank, the diamond's safe remains unexplored since its last verification in 1985. Without verified images from that time, mere sketches attest to its existence.
Upon rumors of disappearance surfaced six years ago, a governmental investigation swiftly unfolded, with bank and land reform board officials queried—each denying sighting the gem.
A Decades-Long Vigil in Bangladesh’s Vault
Post-military governance, the treasury remains closed for official reviews, fueling murmurings over Daria-i-Noor's seclusion. An unnamed bank official vouched for the diamond's presence where it has always remained.
An Elusive Exhibition for a Legendary Gem
The museum director Faizul Latif Chowdhury, eager to exhibit Daria-i-Noor, vouched for its secure storage. Movement between banks prevails, its absence regarded impossible unnoticed. His persistent efforts failed against the ministry's reluctance spurned from security hesitations.
