Rene Brus, Netherlands researching on Vanaspati diamond

Rene Brus, gold smith from Netherlands has been researching on Crown art. He met me today to discuss some topics. He is searching history of a Vanaspati diamond reportedly from the Tagore family of Kolkata, West Bengal. The large sized rare Vanaspati diamond was in the crown of the diety in family temple of Tagore family. Later on the diamond was sold to some unknown. However, it is an unknown fact that where the diamond is.

There is an interesting corelation of the said diamond with my family. It is a historical fact that my ancestor Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim, Court Jewelers to H. E. the Viceroy and Governor General of British India displayed a large sized Vanaspati diamond in an exhibition in Delhi, 1893 organized to honor the visit of British Emperor. Rene Brus is searching a corelation between these two events. He met me to know about the fact.

He also added that there was another description of Vanaspati diamond thatwas in possesion of Baroda Maharaja. Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim, Kolkata had close connection both with Tagore family and Baroda Maharaja. Sayajirao Gayakwad, Maharaja of Baroda organized an All India Jain Conference (1906-07) referred as Sayaji conference. Maharaja Gayakwad nominated  Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim as secretary of that conference.

Maharshi Devendra Nath Tagore of famous Tagore family faced severe financial problem in 1870s and 80s. My father late Dhirendrapat Kothari (1926-1979) told me a story which described that the Tagore family had to sell all their Jewelery to pay debt. It is possible that they sold the rare Vanaspati diamond to the Mookim family in around 1880s. The same was exhibited in Delhi in 1893. It is also possible that the same was sold to Gayakwad Royal family of Baroda.

I have tried to establish a corelation among all these three. However, this is based on assumptions and probabilities.  I believe that reserachers will find more facts to establish the truth.

Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is adviser, Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also ISO 9000 professional)

Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim

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Badridas (Born 1832), son of Kalkadas Sindhar, a young Jeweler was migrated from Lucknow to Kolkata along with her mother Khushal Devi at around 1850. Badridas was a tallented, skilled, creative and hard working Jeweler. He established his Gems and Jewelry business in Kolkata and soon fortune bestowed upon him.

He established his own business house and title of Rai Bahadoor conferred upon him. He named his firm Rai Badridas Bahadoor and sons. He was appointed as Court Jewellers to the Viceroy and Governor General of British India and title of Mookim was conferred upon him. He built a beautiful Kothi at Harrison Road and started residing there. His kothi of Harrison road was featured in "Glimpses of Bengal" published in 1905.

Once he purchased a plot near Dadabadi in Maniktalla region and wanted to build a farm house there. Inspired by his mother he gave up the idea of building farm house and built a temple there. He himself designed the temple and and build it in the best possible way (1867). This is now famous as Parasnath Temple. Sri Shitalnath, 10th Jain Tirthankar is the main diety in the temple. He also built Parasnath Toonk on the highest peak of Parasnath hills and Adinath temple in Purimatal (Allahabad).

Rai Badridas was instrumental to bring many other Shrimal Jain Jewelers to Kolkata. Johari Sath community came into existence mainly because of him.

He was the founder President of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce, the first ever National Chamber of Commerce in India. He also founded Dharam Kanta and Panjrapole society in Kolkata.

He left the earth in 1917 leaving his two sons Rai Kumar Singh and RajKumar Singh Mookim (Title of Court Jewelers also conferred upon them) behind him.

View more:
Gems and Jewelry Articles
Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim (Details)
Shaharwali and Johari Sath part 1
Marital relations between Shaharwali and Johari Sath
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Parashnath Temple in Kolkata

Parashnath Temple is a beautiful temple made of glass. The temple is in the tourist map of Kolkata, India. Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim built this temple in 1867.

Visit this link for more info.
Parashnath Temple