JWA 2021 Jewellery Industry Best Practices

22 | Jewellery World Awards 2021 Kothari also established Victress to alter the male- dominated landscape of the trade. He does this by imparting to women necessary tools and knowledge that could help them rise within the gemstone and jewellery industry. “Through education, we have transformed many of our students into self-reliant professionals, some of whom are now leading big firms in other parts of the world,” he says. As a respected leader, Kothari shares his knowledge with colleagues by involving himself in a number of industry organisations. He has been a member of the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council management committee for more than 20 years, and was even the founding chairman of the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery, among other things. TRUE CALLING In the same way that Kothari paves the future with education, he too honours the past by doing his part in saving India’s rich and colourful cultural heritage. One such project he embarked on was the restoration of the iconic Jal Mahal in Jaipur, which he described to be in a state of disrepair. “Growing up in the Nahargarh Fort where I could see the Jal Mahal, it pained my heart to see a part of our heritage erode. Through this project, I am able to preserve memories of my beloved city for future generations,” he says with a hint of sentimentality. With such a storied career and extensive philanthropic work attached to his name, it is no wonder that Kothari has amassed a number of important awards over the decades. In 2022, he adds on his mantle JWA’s highest accolade as the Recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award. “I would like to sincerely thank JWA for bestowinguponme suchanhonour. It trulyencouragesme, aswell asmembers of the KGK team, to work harder towards reaching our goals and pursuing initiatives that could positively impact the business landscape, the environment and society as a whole. Rest assured that we will remain committed to developing sustainable practices and improving the lives of those in need,” he shares. 1. KGK Group patriarch Navrattan Kothari 2. Kothari, second from left, accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Gemfields and Rio Tinto Retail Jeweller India Awards in 2012. Joining him on stage are, from left, Bruce Cox, the then managing director of Rio Tinto Diamonds; Ian Harebottle, former Gemfields CEO, and Sanjay Kothari of GJEPC 3. Kothari, second from left, celebrates the launch of KGK’s Botswana facility with, from far left, Sanjay Kothari; Kitso Mokaila, Botswana’s then minister of Minerals & Water Resources, and Sandeep Kothari 4. The Honourable Yuri Trutnev, left, presents Kothari with a certificate from the Free Port of Vladivostok 5. Kothari receives an Excellence Award from Sarjan in Hong Kong in 2016 6. Maharaja Sawai Bhan Singh, far right, presents the Sawai Bhawani Singh Award to Kothari 7. Russian President Vladimir Putin, far left, and Kothari lead the inauguration of KGK’s diamond manufacturing unit in Vladivostok 8. Kothari and his wife, Anila, welcome Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur to one of KGK’s Entice boutiques 6 8 7