Comment I get from Mr. DK Bhandia

Hi Jyoti Bhai,

great to see this site blog here. You have been spearheading the documentation of this Jain clan from West Bengal very nicely. I wish to add here the details of whatever I know. Bhandia family in Kolkata is a well-known Johri Saath group who have been renowned for their Jewellery and gemstone business.

My Grandfather Late Sri Puran Chandji Bhandia ( Johri ) Married his second wife Smt. Suhag Sundari from the Kothari Family of Gauhati who belonged to the Jiaganj Azimganj Clan of Jains. I am the last grandson of her last son Late Shri.Kiron Singhji Bhandia residing in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu associated with the Jewellery and Textile Business. My Elder Brother Naresh Bhandia lives in Bangalore associated with the manufacturing of PP Woven Sacs required in the cement industry. I will be glad to know more and even contribute to the efforts you are making. Please feel free to get in touch. I have a Family history tree for our family contributing data from 13 generations. I will be happy to put in inputs in it if you have any.

Thanks and regards

Dinesh Kumar Bhandia.

Jyoti Kothari
(Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is also an 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 talented, skilled, creative and hardworking 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 farmhouse there. Inspired by his mother he gave up the idea of building a farmhouse and built a temple there. He himself designed the temple and build it in the best possible way (1867). This is now famous as Parasnath Temple. Sri Shitalnath, 10th Jain Tirthankar is the main deity 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:

Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim (Details)
Shaharwali and Johari Sath part 1
Marital relations between Shaharwali and Johari Sath
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