Great diamonds of India - Monisha Bharadwaj

Diamonds have captivated the imagination of mankind since the beginning of time. These precious gems were first found in India in about 600 BC and the greatest mines were discovered at Golconda in Hyderabad. Many of the world's largest and most cherished diamonds came from India and several of those discovered elsewhere also made their way into the coffers of the richest people in the subcontinent. Even after the historic plunder of the Mughal Empire by the Persian ruler, Nadir Shah, in 1739, India continued to be known as the treasury of the world; its celebrated royals and wealthy industrialists went to astonishing lengths to acquire these diamonds. Great Diamonds of India is a definitive account of the history and legends associated with some exceptional diamonds that were discovered in India. It unfurls the drama that accompanied their passage from one hand to another, across continents and over great expanses of time. The Kaleidoscope of characters in these stories range from insouciant kings and queens to covetous murderers. With absorbing accounts, this is a book to keep and cherish.