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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, 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 the title of
Rai Bahadoor was 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 the title of Mookim was conferred upon him. He built a beautiful Kothi at Harrison Road and started residing there. His kothi on Harrison Road was featured in "Glimpses of Bengal" published in 1905.
Once he purchased a plot near
Dadabadi in the 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 built it in the best possible way (1867). This is now famous as
Parasnath Temple.
Sri Shitalnath, the 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 in bringing 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 for his heavenly abode in 1917, leaving his two sons,
Rai Kumar Singh and
Rajkumar Singh Mookim (Title of Court Jewelers also conferred upon them), after his death.
View more:
Rai Badridas Bahadoor Mookim (Details)
Shaharwali and Johari Sath part 1
Marital relations between Shaharwali and Johari Sath
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Sri Chandaprabhu Swami Temple
