The mysterious story of Kohinoor
Dr. Jassim Taqui
The Oxford University Press (OUP) Wednesday launched its latest publication – Kohinoor: The Story of the World’s most Infamous Diamond.
The book is jointly written by acclaimed historian William Dalrymple and Anita Annand the radio and Television journalist in Britain. Dalrymple had written some outstanding best sellers books like City of Djinns, White Mughals, the last Mughals, Nine Lives. Anand had written Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, and Revolutionary.
Revealing previously unknown moments in the Kohinoor’s history, the book traces the history and unravels the mystery surrounding the world’s most famous Diamond, using previously untranslated Sanskrit, Persian and Urdu sources.
The book launched held at the National Library of Pakistan featuring a stimulating presentation in which William Dalrymple told the sweep of the early history of the Kohinoor as referenced in ancient Indian texts, through its sightings during Mughal times, to its seizure by Nader Shah, and its possession by Ranjit Singh. Continuing with the journey of the prized gem, Anita Annand gave an account of how the diamond was taken from the Sikh court and passed on to the British crown.
Earlier, Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director, OUP Pakistan, introduced the authors and said that the book was the story of a fascinating gem, accused of bringing misfortune to its owners, yet coveted and exalted by them.
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