The Koh-i-noor Diamond is one of the world’s most well known diamonds. It is by no means the world’s biggest diamond, but it is by far the most infamous. Its storied history spans centuries-the Koh-i-nor has passed through the hands of many rulers, dynasties and empires in South and Central Asia, including the Mughal emperors of India, Persian Shahs, Afghan rulers and Sikh Maharajas, before ending up in the British Crown Jewels. This rich history and the curse it allegedly casts on male owners has added to its notoriety, mystique and fame. Its controversial “acquisition” by Queen Victoria has made its presence in the British Crown Jewels a subject of debate. India, Pakistan, Iran and even the Taliban have laid a claim to it.

Sunil Saksena’s presentation will recount some of its history and the myths and legends that surround it. It’s an amazing story.

Sunil  is a member of the Darien DMA and its past President. He was born in India in 1944 and received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology , Roorkee.

He worked at Union Carbide India before proceeding to the University of California, Berkeley in 1966 for graduate work. He received a masters degree in engineering as well as an MBA from Berkeley. Sunil worked as a mechanical engineer with American Can Company in San Francisco where his claim to fame is that he designed the machine that puts the can cover on the beer can making it safe for you beer drinkers to safely imbibe. For the majority of his career he was in finance, first as an international banker with Bankers Trust Company serving in Singapore, Mumbai and New York and later with Fidelity Investments from which he retired in 2004.

He and his wife  lived in Darien for  38 years and have just this year moved to Vermont.