The 47^th India Gem and Jewellery Awards (IGJA) 2022, powered by GIA, being presented for the financial year 2019-20, took off on a high note at Taj Lands End, Mumbai, on Tuesday, March 22.

IGJA is one of the foremost recognition platforms for the gems and jewellery sector in India to encourage exports and award excellence in manufacturing, finance, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The awards were presented by Kapil Dev, former captain of the Indian cricket team, who was the Chief Guest, and Mohinder Amarnath, former Indian cricketer, who was the Guest of Honour, along with Colin Shah, Chairman, GJEPC; Ashok Gajera, Regional Chairman, Western Region, GJEPC; Mansukh Kothari, Convener, Events, GJEPC; Sabyasachi Ray, ED, GJEPC; and Sriram Natarajan, MD, GIA. The MC of the event was stand-up comedian Vikram Sathaye.

The venue saw a huge turnout, with a large number of people showing up to attend the event. The Who’s Who of the gems and jewellery industry, along with eminent personalities from other fields, were also present at the occasion.

Along with awards for excellence in exports and related categories, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Sanjay Kothari, Director, Diatrends Jewellery. In an emotional tribute to him, Shah said, “Sanjay bhai is a very approachable person. He has done a lot for the G&J industry. He is the chief architect and driver of the events that the industry holds today. Earlier, the industry events used to be B2C events, but Sanjay bhai changed the format and converted the shows into B2B events. In fact, the true success of IIJS was achieved only after it was converted into a B2B show, thanks to Sanjay bhai. He also helped the industry during the Covid pandemic. He has a die-hard spirit and works tirelessly. A book of tributes is being launched in his honour.”

Speaking on the occasion, Kothari said, “My father wanted me to become a doctor, but I dropped out after two years, and ventured into this industry. I have been working for the betterment of the industry and the Council for quite a while. Now, I want the support of the gems and jewellery industry for implementing AI/ML, for I have tied up with IIT, Mumbai. For this venture, I have support from GIA and IGI. The entire sector needs to come out in support of the implementation of AI/ML in the processes used in the industry.”

Talking about life after the award, he said, “It is said that after a Lifetime Achievement Award, one must sit quietly at home, but I am not that sort of a person. Till my last breath, I will work for the Council and the betterment of the industry.”

Providing the entertainment quotient, Sathaye had the audience in splits when he imitated several cricketers, and their bowling and batting stance, and asked the audience to guess whom he was imitating. The audience participated enthusiastically in the guessing game.

Shah then called both the cricketers on stage and had a Q&A session with them. He asked them several interesting questions, to which the cricketers gave very profound and philosophical answers.

Answering one of the questions, Kapil Dev said, “One should not work under pressure and stress. If you work with stress, you will not enjoy your work. You should work with pleasure, and enjoy the process of working. You should add an element of fun to work.”

Amarnath reminisced about his trademark red handkerchief, and also talked about how he was given the Man of the Match award in Barbados in a match against the then might West Indies, even though India lost the match. Amarnath said the best compliment he has ever received was when his father sent him a telegram after winning the Man of the Match award, that simply said: “Proud of you, son.”

GJEPC has been holding the Annual Awards for the industry since 1973 to honour exemplary achievements of leading exporters, and banks that are at the forefront of supporting the gems and jewellery trade and lending assistance to importers, among others. Incidentally, the gem and jewellery industry accounts for $40 bn, that is, 10%, of India’s overall exports of $400 bn.

Here is the list of the winners: