With the discovery of a 32.8-carat diamond in his fields, lady luck has finally smiled on Swamidin Pal, who has spent eight years digging around his meager fields in search of the precious stone.
Estimates peg the value of Pal's find, in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh, at an astonishing Rs 1 crore.
The farmer, who spends nearly six months of the year searching for a diamond, finally made the big-ticket discovery while pulling out weeds on the two-acre agricultural plot he leases, some eight kilometers from the district town.
As per regulations, Pal informed the district diamond office of his discovery, which promises to bring a huge change in his family's economic status.
A royalty of 12 percent will be charged after the diamond is auctioned, and the remainder of the proceeds will go to Pal.Panna has been known to bless its residents with diamonds for centuries; these discoveries have seen the former Bundela Rajput capital find a place in literature and even Bollywood songs.
The Panna diamonds are classified into four categories and are identified as Motichul, Manik, Panna, and Bunsput based on their tint and color.
This year, the diamond office has already been notified of 16 of these precious stones, amounting to 124 carats. Pal says he plans to spend his money on agricultural land for his sons and hopes that the next generation won't have to battle the odds he had to face.
