AASMA-I-NOOR: The Cursed Jewel

by Sudipta Sen Gupta

  • Category History
  • Format Paperback
  • Imprint Rupa
  • Price 395
  1. ISBN: 978-93-5520-220-8
  2. Pages: 312 pages
  3. Date: 5th June 2022

ABOUT THIS BOOK

A diamond like no other, a curse like no other…
This is the story of the world’s largest diamond—Aasma-i-Noor (sky of light). This rare red jewel of incomparable beauty surpassed its sister stones—Koh-i-Noor (mountain of light) and Darya-i-Noor (sea of light)—all mined from the same womb of the Kollur mine in Golconda.

This was a diamond with a far more violent history than her sisters. Her existence was zealously guarded down the ages by a select circle. Over time, even her name disappeared from all historical texts, bards’ tales and living memory itself.

The modern-day search for the lost jewel begins in two different corners of the world, involving a British research scholar in London and an Indian historian in Calcutta. The British scholar finds mention of the Aasma-i-Noor in the documents left behind by Sir Robert Clive. The historian from India is the descendant of a Raja, who was Clive’s friend and confidante. The Battle of Plassey in 1757, the downfall of Nawab Siraj-ud Daulah, the death of Clive and the treachery of Mir Jafar, all combine to create a maze of cryptic clues and devilish dead ends for the unlikely partners. They plough forward, and just when the end is in sight, an implacable adversary threatens everything.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Sudipta Sen Gupta is an associate professor in the School of Management at GD Goenka University. After completing her graduation in physics from Presidency College, Kolkata, and MBA from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University, she worked in senior corporate management roles for over 20 years. She helped build multiple well-known brands and powered multinational organizations to success, winning several national and global awards and recognitions along the way. In 2017, she decided to leave the corporate world and join academics, allowing her time to complete her PhD and return to her first love—Indian history. Aasma-i-Noor: The Cursed Jewel is the result of that love.