News Desk: Vummidi Ethiraj, the veteran jeweller who played a key role in crafting the historic Sengol installed in India’s new Parliament building, died in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday at the age of 99. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan expressed their condolences following his death, remembering his contribution to India’s cultural heritage and traditional jewellery craftsmanship.
Ethiraj belonged to the family behind Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, a jewellery business with a history spanning 125 years. He was regarded as the patriarch of the Vummidi family and was associated with the creation of the Sengol, a gold-plated silver sceptre that holds historical and cultural significance in India.
PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ethiraj
In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over Ethiraj’s demise. He said the veteran craftsman would always be remembered for his role in creating the Sengol presented to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Modi also recalled meeting Ethiraj in 2023, when the Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building. The Prime Minister said the government had the honour of giving the historic artefact a prominent place in Parliament, recognising its significance in the country’s history and traditions.
Offering condolences to Ethiraj’s family and admirers, Modi described his life and craftsmanship as a remarkable link between India’s traditions and its national journey.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also mourned the loss, highlighting Ethiraj’s contribution to preserving the country’s rich jewellery-making heritage. He said the craftsman’s efforts in creating the Sengol would be remembered with respect and gratitude.
The Historical Significance of the Sengol
The Sengol is a gold-plated silver sceptre associated with the transfer of power from British rule to independent India in 1947. It was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru by priests, known as Adheenams, from the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu on the eve of Independence.
The sceptre was crafted by Vummidi Jewellers and later became a prominent symbol of India’s historical and cultural traditions.
Decades after Independence, the Sengol returned to national prominence when it was ceremonially installed in the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, 2023.
Ethiraj’s contribution to the artefact connected his family’s traditional craftsmanship with one of the defining moments in India’s modern political history.
His death marks the end of a long life associated with jewellery-making excellence and a legacy that will continue to be remembered through the historic Sengol.
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