Laljibhai Patel

LaljiBhai Patel (born 28 November 1955) is an Indian diamantaire, a philanthropic social activist, and the chairman of Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd. (DDPL) He has been the head Dharmanandan Diamonds Group of Companies (Revenue - US$1.5 Billion) for over four and a half decades.

Laljibhai Patel ranked in the top 10 wealthiest jewelers in India with a personal fortune of $480 million, a Wealth-X list of India's wealthiest jewelers released on July 1, 2015.

In 2015, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award by Retail Jewelers India for his contribution and success in the industry of luxury goods and his contribution to the betterment of society in Surat and throughout the State of Gujarat.

Laljibhai Patel (born 28 November 1955) is an Indian diamantaire, philanthropic social activist, and the chairman of Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd. (DDPL). He has led the Dharmanandan Diamonds Group of Companies, which has a revenue of US$1.5 billion, for over four and a half decades.

Patel is recognized as one of the top 10 wealthiest jewelers in India, with a personal fortune of $480 million, according to a Wealth-X list released on July 1, 2015.. His substantial influence in the diamond industry and his significant personal wealth have established him as a prominent figure in the luxury goods sector.

In recognition of his contributions and success in the luxury goods industry, as well as his philanthropic efforts for the betterment of society in Surat and State of Gujarat. , Patel was honored with a lifetime achievement award by Retail Jewelers India in 2015. This accolade highlights his enduring impact on both the business and social spheres.

Career
After moving to Surat City from his hometown, Ugamedi, in 1974-75 Laljibhai Patel began his career as a diamond trader. In 1985, along with his childhood friend Tulsibhai Goti, Laljibhai founded a small diamond manufacturing unit named Shreeji Gems. The company grew, and in 1993, it was registered as a partnership firm and renamed Dharmanandan Diamonds. After 14 years, on August 31, 2007, it was formally incorporated as Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd., which manufactures polished diamonds in all shapes and sizes. In November 2007, the company became a De Beers Sightholder.

After relocating to Surat City from his hometown of Ugamedi in 1974-75, Laljibhai Patel commenced his career as a diamond trader. In 1985, he co-founded a small diamond manufacturing unit named Shreeji Gems with his childhood friend, Tulsibhai Goti. The company experienced significant growth, and in 1993, it was registered as a partnership firm and renamed Dharmanandan Diamonds.

On August 31, 2007, Dharmanandan Diamonds was formally incorporated as Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd., specializing in the manufacture of polished diamonds in various shapes and sizes. In November 2007, the company achieved the status of a De Beers Sightholder, marking a significant milestone in its development and recognition in the diamond industry.

Personal life
Laljibhai was born at Ugamedi, a village in Botad district in the state of Gujarat, India, to a farmer family. He moved to Rajkot to complete his secondary school. He studied at Gurukul, Rajkot where he befriended his current business associate, Tulsibhai Goti. Laljibhai is married to Nirmalaben and the couple has two sons.

Laljibhai Patel was born on 28 November 1955 in Ugamedi, a village in Botad district in the state of Gujarat, India, to a farming family. He relocated to Rajkot to complete his secondary education, studying at Gurukul, Rajkot, where he formed a lasting friendship with his current business associate, Tulsibhai Goti. Laljibhai Patel is married to Nirmalaben, and together they have two sons..

Social work
Laljibhai has been involved in several philanthropic causes. These include female foeticide, water conservation, education, health, and social illiteracy.

Save the Girl Child Mega Campaign
Under the presidency of Laljibhai Patel, the Samast Patidar Samaj organized the "Save the Girl Child Mega Campaign" (Maha Laddu Beti Bachao Abhiyan). This initiative aimed to encourage empathy and participation in the movement against female foeticide and to promote gender equality. As part of the campaign, a significant symbolic gesture involved collecting a handful of grains and a glass of water from 235,000 households to create a gigantic Bundi laddu weighing 300,000 kg (660,000 lb) with a diameter of 65 ft (20 m) and a height of 35 ft (11 m).

Additionally, to spread awareness and foster a change in attitudes, 170,000 six-page informative booklets were distributed throughout the state. On 1 January 2006, a massive gathering of 1.2 million people in Surat took an oath in the presence of Ladu Prasadam to never engage in or condone female foeticide. This event was acknowledged by the Limca Book of Records.

The campaign significantly impacted the gender ratio in Gujarat, improving it to 920 girls per 1,000 boys from 761 girls in 2006. It also fostered a psychological shift, leading to a reduction in discrimination and promoting the celebration of the birth of girls on par with boys.

River Linking & Rainwater Conservation
Growing up as a farmer's son, Laljibhai Patel has always been deeply concerned about rainwater conservation, understanding the impact of erratic rainfall on annual crop yields. To address this issue, he initiated a large-scale water conservation project in his native village of Ugamedi, located in the Botad district of Gujarat. He constructed three artificial ponds, each measuring 3.5 km (2.2 mi) in length, up to 45 ft (14 m) in depth, and 400 ft (120 m) in width, with a total storage capacity of nearly 50 million liters of fresh water. These ponds are the largest artificial ponds in Gujarat.

Initially, the village river Sonal was intended to fill these ponds. However, due to a weak monsoon, it became apparent that the Sonal river alone could not adequately fill the ponds. After careful analysis, Patel identified another significant river, Keri, located 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away from the village, whose water was flowing into the ocean. He devised a solution to divert water from the Keri river to the Sonal river using an RCC pipeline with a diameter of three feet (0.91 m), effectively filling the three large ponds.

This innovative project marked the first instance in India of interlinking rivers, paying tribute to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision of river interlinking. The initiative aims to resolve the perennial problem of water scarcity in the region. Remarkably, the entire cost of the project was borne by Laljibhai Patel himself.

Clean Ganga Mission
Laljibhai Patel acquired the Narendra Modi suit for US$693,174 through an auction aimed at raising funds for the cleaning and preservation of the holy river Ganga, a significant symbol of Indian heritage. This suit holds the record as the world's most expensive piece of clothing and is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Schools in Tribal Area
For the overall upliftment of the tribal area, Laljibhai Patel has built 10 schools in the Dang and Narmada district area, each of which has more than 500 tribal children studying.

Promoting Gurukul Education
Having studied at Gurukul himself, Laljibhai Patel understands its significance and actively serves as a Trustee at Shree Swaminarayan Rajkot Gurukul, which has 53 branches in India and worldwide. This institution aims to build the character of 50,000 children through holistic education and spiritual enlightenment. Since its inception, more than 500,000 students have graduated from these Gurukul branches.

Kanya Gurukul (Girl's Gurukul)
Laljibhai Patel recognized the need for an institution similar to Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul for girls, where young girls could receive values-based education. With unwavering determination, he brought this vision to life by establishing the first-ever girls' Gurukul in Gujarat, located in Surat. This institution, spread over 60,000 square yards of land, is designed to accommodate 3,000 girls, providing them with a nurturing environment that emphasizes spiritual enlightenment and discipline at its core.

Helping Hand for Specially Abled
Recognizing the importance of physical mobility, Laljibhai Patel, under the presidency of the Shantuben T. Patel Charitable Trust, has initiated a campaign to donate essential amenities, such as artificial hands and legs, to individuals with disabilities. To date, numerous artificial limbs have been provided to those in need.

Monetary Donation to Hospitals
Laljibhai Patel has provided monetary support to numerous hospitals, including RMS Multi-speciality Hospital in Dhandhuka, Swami Shree Nirdoshanand Manavseva Hospital in Timbi, Lions Cancer Detection Centre in Surat Civil Hospital, Kiran Hospital in Surat, Shree Swaminarayan Multi-specialty Hospital in Vadtal, among other healthcare organizations.

Positions in various organizations

 * Founder & President of Samast Patidar Samaj Trust - Surat
 * President of Traffic Education Trust - First Safe City CCTV Project - Surat
 * President of Dharmanandan Charitable Trust – Surat
 * President of Shantuben T. Patel Charitable Trust
 * President of RV Gosaliya Vidhya Mandir – Ugamedi
 * President of Katargam Police Welfare Trust – Surat
 * Vice-President of Kiran Hospital - Surat
 * Chairman of Construction Planning Committee - Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB)
 * Treasurer at Gujarat Hira Bourse
 * Founder Trustee at Sardar Dham – Ahmedabad
 * Trustee at Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust
 * Chairman at Shree Swaminarayan Kanya Gurukul, Surat
 * Trustee at Shree Swaminaran Gurukul, Rajkot – 32 School Branches in Gujarat
 * Trustee at Shree Swaminaran Gurukul, Hyderabad – 18 School Branches
 * Trustee at Samast Patidar Arogya Trust - Surat
 * Trustee at Prayosha Pratisthan School - Ahva, Saputara
 * Trustee at Sardar Dham Education Trust – Bhavnagar
 * Trustee at Bhavnagar District Leuva Patel Education Trust – Surat
 * Trustee at Saurashtra Patel Seva Samaj - Puna Gam, Surat
 * Trustee at Patel Social Trust – Mumbai
 * Trustee at Saurashtra Patel Kelavni Mandal - Ahmedabad
 * Trustee at Shastri Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami Rajkot Gurukul Hospital
 * Trustee at Shree Swaminarayan Multi-specialty Hospital - Vadtal
 * Trustee at Lions Cancer Detection Centre - Civil Hospital - Surat