What are the odds that a casual dig could rewrite your future?
For two young friends in central India, that question just got a glittering answer.
On a cold winter morning in Panna — a dusty district better known for hardship than hope.
Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed stumbled upon a rock. That stopped them in their tracks.
It wasn’t just shiny. It was life-changing. Officials later confirmed it was a 15.34-carat, gem-quality diamond — the kind most miners only dream of.
“The stone could fetch five to six million rupees at auction,” said Anupam Singh, the region’s official diamond evaluator.
He explained that prices depend on global benchmarks like the Rapaport Report.
Diamond Find Transforms Lives
In Panna, diamonds found by locals are sold at government auctions that attract buyers from across India and beyond.
For Satish, a meat shop worker, and Sajid, a fruit seller, the discovery feels surreal.
“We can finally get our sisters married,” they said, smiling.
Panna sits atop much of India’s diamond reserves, yet remains one of its poorest districts.
Locals lease small plots cheaply and dig by hand, often for years, finding nothing but dust.
Sajid’s father and grandfather tried for decades with no luck.
“This was pure fortune,” said mining officer Ravi Patel.
Sometimes, patience doesn’t just pay off — it sparkles.
