Vummidi Ethiraj
?–2026South Indian jeweller and patriarch of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers who crafted the historic Sengol presented to Jawaharlal Nehru and later installed in Parliament.
Particulars
Vummidi Ethiraj was a leading South Indian jeweller and the patriarch of the Vummidi family, which owns the 125-year-old Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers. He was best known for crafting the historic Sengol, a golden sceptre presented to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the transfer of power in 1947, which became a symbol of India's civilisational heritage.
In 2023, the Sengol was given a place of pride in the new Parliament building, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ethiraj to express gratitude for his craftsmanship. His death at the age of 99 in Chennai drew condolences from both the Prime Minister and Vice President, who praised his contribution to preserving India's tradition of jewellery craftsmanship.
Compiled from source reports. Automated record.