The Source Book On Sikhism

Shah Shuja Presents Gem to Ranjit Singh Ji

The Maharaja lost no time in demanding the promised Koh-i-Noor. The Shah tried to evade the demand and put several conflicting excuses. The Shah said that he had lost it along with jewels and again he said that he mortgaged it for rupees six Kror at Kandhar. All stratagems, promises, persuasions, arguments and threats were used. It cast to save himself from the indignities which were offered to him and he produced a large Topaz (Pukhraj) and gave it to messengers for handing the same to Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji. Ranjit Singh at once sent for the jewellers who stated that it was not the Koh-i-Noor. The Shah was put under arrest. Ranjit Singh Ji was very angry with the Shah for withholding the Koh-i-Noor which he thought he was fully entitled to in view of the promise made by the Begum. Shah Shuja was told that Ranjit Singh was prepared even to buy it and an advance of Rs. 50,000/ was sent. Shah Shuja fell into the trap and gave an indication to sell the diamond. This confirmed the fact that Koh-i-Noor was with him. The Afghan King was offered a cashprice of Rs. 3,000,000/ and the grant of Jagir of Rs. 50,000/ per anum. Shah Shuja agreed and said that the Maharaja should personally take delivery of it. The exalted Maharaja on hearing this came out of the fort riding a horse and was received by Shah Shuja with great respect and honour, who bended his knees to him out of courtesy, while all the other dignitaries remained standing with folded hands. After a pause of an hour Ranjit Singh Jir’s patience was exhausted and he whispered into the ears of one of the attendants as to what the purpose of the meeting was. Shah Shuja made a signal to one of his servants who after a while brought in a small roll which he placed on the carpet at an equal distance between the two. When the Koh-i-Noor was presented to the Maharaja he asked for its price and was told that is price was the sword. As soon as he got the diamond he put it into his pocket and returned forthwith to gloat over his new possession. He held a grand Durbar in honour of this unique event and the city was ‘magnificently decorated and illuminated’. It was kept in safe custody and was worn only on state occasions for a short while. The Maharaja first used it as an armlet and then on his turban.

Mr. Osborne says: “The diamond is about an inch and a half in length and upwards of an inch width, is in the shape of an egg, is valued at about three million sterling, is very brilliant and without a flaw of any kind”.

The diamond remained with Ranjit Singh Ji till his death in 1839. During the last days of his illness prayers were offered and offerings were sent to the different shrines for his recovery and His Highness bestowed in charity money, jewels and other property worth fifty lakhs. The ailing Maharaja directed that the well -known Koh-i-Noor be sent to the temple of Jagannath. Muttering at the same time the great truth that ‘no one carried with him his worldly wealth’, and that such a bequest would perpetuate his name. But Misar Meli Ram, in charge of Toshakhana, objected to its being ‘State Property’.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was fond of great pomp and show. His Durbars were imposing and he loved his valuable possessions, especially the Koh-i-Noor of which he was both fond and proud. The history of this diamond would have been different but for the faithful and loyal officer Dewan Beli Ram who saved it for the royal successors of Ranjit Singh Ji. Maharaja Kharak Singh Ji, who succeeded his father, was imprisoned and died while in custody and Naunihal Singh, his son, was killed by the collapse of a door of the Hazari Bagh while returning from the cremation of his father in 1840.

In January, 1841, Sher Singh, the second son of Maharaja Ranit Singh Ji, became king. He was a man of high ideals but ease-loving. One fine morning when Maharaja Sher Singh Ji was enjoying the sight of fountains emitting rosewater, Sanhawalia Sardars rushed into the fort, killed the Prime Minister Raja Dhayan Singh Ji and after that with one stroke of the sword they cut the head of the unsuspecting king. Raja Hira Singh, son of Raja Dhayan Singh, inflicted a crushing defeat to Sandhawalias. The fearless Sardars were beheaded and Maharaja Dalip Singh Ji, the infant son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, was installed on the throne with Raja Hira Singh Ji as his Prime Minister.

Koh-i-Noor was presented to Maharaja Sher Singh Ji at the time of his coronation and after his assassination it came into the possession of the infant Maharaja Dalip Singh Ji.