SHRI BANJI LAL THOLIA

SHRI BANJI LAL THOLIA
(1856-1929)



A most eminent jeweller of the country, Shri Banji Lai Tholia was born at Jaipur. His father Shri Kaluram Tholia was businessman of moderate means, Shri Banji Lai was the first in his family to start the jewellery business at the tender age of 13. Within 10 years time he became very prominent in the jewellery trade. He was the first to export emeralds. He constructed Banji House at Jaipur which was his residence and business premises. He had his business dealings with the princely States and M/s Pitters of London and Victor Rojanthal of Paris. By the age of 40 years Shri Tholia had become a most prominent jeweller and even foreigners took his advice in the trade. He was the main founder of Jaipur Jewellers Association and for many years its meetings were held at his residence. He had a highly respectable position in Jaipur and other princely States and the English Government. While Sawai Pi/ladho Singh, the then ruler of Jaipur, went to England he took a letter from Shri Tholia in the name of Mr. Pitters to finance him in case of need.

He had five sons, namely Sh. Gopi Chand, Sh. Harak Chand, Sh. Sunder Lai, Sh. Poonam Chand and Sh. Tara Chand and two daughters. One of the daughters is married to Shri Prakash Chand Kasliwal of Gem Palace, a leading jeweller of Jaipur.

Shri Gopi Chand Tholia was very popular also in the social circles besides being a jeweller of repute. He was President of Padampura Tirthakshetra Committee, Vice- President of Dig. Jain Maha Sabha, A. I. Digamber Jain Tirthakshetra Committee and Shri Mahavir Ji Tirthakshetra Committee and worked in capacities as President, office bearer and Committee Member of various other All India and local bodies. He was Hon. Magistrate, Member of Civic bodies and had a special Chair in the Jaipur Durbar. He gave a new organisational shape to Jaipur Jewellers Association and was its first President. He lived a very gracious life. He expired in 1957.

He had one son Shri Rishabh Das Tholia, born in 1903 and married to the daughter of R.B. Seth Nemi Chand Soni of Ajmer. He has been President of Mg. Committee of Mandir Tholian for several years and Committee Member of several bodies. He has two sons, Shri Rajendra Kumar and Shri Pradeep Kumar Tholia and two daughters. One of the daughters Smt. Kamlabai is married to Shri P. C. Sethi, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Active and of amicable nature Shri Rajendra Kumar has a respectable place in the social circles.

Shri Harak Chand had his only son Shri Roop Chand, married to the daughter of R. B. Lai Chand Sethi of Ujjain. Shri Harak Chand had expired in 1945. Shri Roop Chand had his only son Shri Raj Kumud. Shri Roop Chand had expired in 1944.

Shri Sunder Lai, a very dynamic man in the Tholia family, mainly looked after the jewellery business of the firm Banji Lai Tholia. Known as Emerald King, he was a prominent jeweller of the country. The Jaipur, Udaipur, Jhalawar and Jodhpur States had granted him Tazim and Kara. He was President of Jaipur Jewellers Association for two decades and Committee Member of several social and religious bodies. He was the partner with Sir Seth Bhag Chand Soni of Ajmer in emerald mines. He got the octroi duty on jewellery exempted by Sawai Man Singh who held him in high esteems.

He established M/s. Shanti Vijay & Co. Jewellers, a very prominent jewellery firm at Delhi in 1942 with Shri Hira Lai Kapur Chand Godha. The partnership was dissolved in 1962 and the firm was thereafter owned by the Godha family. He expired in 1965. He had four sons Sh. Nem Kumar, Sh. Shanti Kumar, Sh. Vijay Kumar and Sh. Devendra Kumar and five daughters.

Shri Poonam Chand had no issue. He adopted Sh. Shanti Kumar, son of his elder brother Shri Sunder Lai Tholia. He had expired in 1957. Shri Tara Chand was born in 1923. He is a graduate. He was married in 1942 with the daughter of Sir Bhag Chand Soni. A well known jeweller of Jaipur he is associated with various bodies as President, Vice-President and Committee Member. He has one son Sh. Sharat Chand and five daughters.

All the descendents of Shri Banji Lai Tholia are in jewellery business and occupy a prominent position among the jewellers and in religious and social circles.

A Dharmshala at Shri Mahavirji, a Dharam- shala at Jaipur, Shanti Sagar Dig. Jain Charitable Aurvedic Dispensary, Mandir Tho- lian and a Chaityalaya having Jain images of precious and semi precious stones at Mirza Ismail Road and Shanti Sagar Vachnalaya have been constructed by Seth Banji Lai Tholia and his descendents. All these are managed under Seth Banji Lai Tholia Charity Trust of which Shri Tara Chand is the President and Shri Rajendra Kumar is the Hon. Secretary. The Tholia family has a distinguished place in business as well as other fields.