The Legendary Diamantaire: the Life of Kirtilal K. Doshi

Kirtilal Kalidas Doshi was the doyen of India’s gems and diamond industry. A visionary who was responsible for founding the Gemmological Institute of India, he was also instrumental in the formation of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and played a key role in drafting its constitution. He was chairman of Shrenuj & Company, a leading firm in its time. Doshi was the voice of the gems and jewellery industry for many years and a mentor to younger colleagues who looked up to him for advice and support. A devout Jain, he was closely associated with institutions connected to Jainism. A man of many talents, he was a poet, a painter, a philatelist and a bibliophile. He read widely and was always eager to share his knowledge. He compiled his favourite quotations into a number of books, which he distributed generously. Based on interviews and the private papers of the Doshi family, this biography not only introduces Doshi to the general public but also provides a glimpse into the evolution of the gems industry in India.