(PRESS RELEASE) Renowned Diamond baron, visionary, industrialist, and humanitarian, Shri Govind Dholakia sounds encouraging as talks about keeping up with ethical behaviour in one’s business. “Your integrity will put you ahead of your own success”, he says, and adds that “Before starting my business, I had decided that whatever be the situation, I will never lie or cheat in business. I will adhere to these principles no matter what, till the end.”
Shri Govind Dholakia was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by Gems and Jewellery Exports Promotion Council (GJEPC) in the esteemed presence of the Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, who was the Chief Guest for the event, and Shri C.R. Patil, Member of Parliament, Govt. Of India, who was the Guest of Honour for the event. It was the 46th India Gem and Jewellery Awards ceremony, organised on 27th August, 2021 at Le Meridien Hotel, Surat, Gujarat.
While inclusion with GJEPC is an honour in itself, only a few members are selected for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. These special honourees are distinguished based on their significant and enduring contributions towards the growth of their fields, their contributions they have made to society and the impact they have had on their industries.
Shri Govind Dholakia is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd (SRK), world’s largest diamond crafting and exports company and SRK Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF), a philanthropic arm of SRK. Govindkaka, as he is fondly addressed by all, founded SRK in 1964. Since then, he has led SRK to grow to a 1.3 bn USD global leader and has shaped it into a trusted partner as it provides expertise and best services to its customers. His innovative sustainability pursuits has helped set global records for the company, and also positioned SRK to being a pre-eminent compliant company in the industry. A DeBeers Sightholder, Alrosa Alliance long term customer, Dominion Diamond Preferred Purchaser, Rio Tinto Select Diamantaire, and a Member of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India, SRK is also the preferred crafter of Forevermark and Canadamark diamonds, the diamonds which are known for their distinctiveness, radiant beauty and responsible sourcing. By 2015, Govindkaka had set the yardstick of Green Building Practices through SRK’s State-of-the-Art Green Crafting Facilities, becoming Asia’s and the industry’s one and only LEED Platinum Rated Crafting Facility by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). For the same initiative, he received the USGBC Leadership Award by President Bill Clinton in Nov. 2017 at Boston, USA, and also became the 1st Indian Awarded so far by USGBC in the history of more than two decades.
Govindkaka has also leveraged leadership roles to support causes like Healthcare, Education, Community Welfare and Women Empowerment. He is also actively involved in more than 30 social trusts in capacities like- Director of Gujarat state for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Nidhi Samarpan Samiti (A state level drive to gather contribution for Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya), President of Shree Ramkrishna Charitable Trust, Shree Ramkrishna Welfare Trust, etc.
His outstanding contributions by touching several thousands of peoples’ lives by delivering through his selfless social welfare work over the last three decades, especially having impactful contributions in:
- Under the banner of Shree Ramkrishna Welfare Trust for two decades, more than 1,00,000 people have received financial support for various Educational Scholarships and Medical exigencies.
- Since one decade, enhancing the quality of Education of more than 40,000 students by adopting the Nagar Prathmik Shikshan Samiti Schools (Run by Surat Municipal Corporation) and also by adopting the schools run in the rural and tribal areas of South Gujarat region.
- Rehabilitated Two Villages (Maanba and Lutavadar of Kutch District) which got distorted during the 2001- Earthquake in Gujarat. Re-boosted the lives of more than 5000 villagers by rebuilding the villages entirely and also renamed them as Nandu Gam and Godhani Gam respectively.
- Under Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation, has conducted “Demographic Health Assessment” of more than 1,12,000 villagers for 4 Talukas of Amreli District, Gujarat under the banner of “SRK Kalam Health Project”.
Govindkaka in 2020 was bestowed with the Doctorate in Philosophy (D. Phil) degree by Indus University of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Though having received formal education only till the primary school level, he is invited as guest speaker to share his wisdom at various schools, colleges and organisations. Throughout his remarkable career, Govindkaka has received numerous awards, accolades like the ‘Suryapur Ratna Award (Jewel of Surat) in 2005 by Surat Municipal Corporation’, ‘AMA-Atlas Dychem Outstanding Entrepreneur Award of 2013’, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award of 2014 by Retail Jeweler India’, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award of 2014 by Sarin’, ‘Karmayogi Award by Kerala Management Association in 2019’, etc, and has been recognized worldwide for his amazing contributions towards industry and community welfare.
During the award function, Govindkaka quoted 3 important words of wisdom that the youngsters of today should follow: Skill, Technology and Hard work.
“His legacy will live on for years to come. We hope this award helps to commemorate his rich legacy and all he has done for the community”, quoted a family member from SRK.