The Indian gems and jewellery industry has lost a gem in Arun Kaigaonkar, Founder and chairman of the well-known jewellery company Chintamanis from Maharashtra.

In the year 1972, the young and strong willed Arun Kaigaonkar who was lovingly called as Bapu, left home for Mumbai (then Bombay), the city of opportunities and dreams. He had all of Rs.11000 (taken as a loan), a driving ambition to succeed and a few big dreams. His fascinating journey from - setting up a humble gold-bangles manufacturing workshop to starting his first store - Vaishali Jewellers in Girgaum to launching the iconic Chintamanis megastore in Prabhadevi in 1993 is a story of unstinted hard work and sharp business acumen. He realized early on the importance of earning and preserving customer trust and satisfaction through his uncompromising approach towards purity and quality. Today Chintamanis is a jewellery brand to be reckoned with, much-loved and trusted by a large spectrum of people including many respected professionals, politicians and film personalities.

He was honoured with the ‘Anmol Ratna’ lifetime achievement award. He has headed and founded various organisations such as Mumbai Gold Club, Gem and Jewellery Federation of India, Suburban Jewellers Association, Vice-Chairman of Maharashtra Rajya Saraf Suvarnakar Federation, among others. Arun Kaigaonkar has always been a role model for many jewellers.

Ashok Minawala from Danabhai Jewellers talks about the legendary personality…

“The world is full of good people who are noble, selfless and generous people, who help the helpless, continue to push the envelope when the world says retreat, such people are embodiments of angels on earth.  Men and women who, by virtue of skill or character, make us happy — happy that they're among us, happy irrespective of what we say or do, happy to see we are successful.

Arunbhai was one such person I have been associated with since 1988. We generally met or spoke 2/3 times a year but our communications were long and always on our industry. He was very conscious of the big change that was coming in 2000 and now in 2016 onwards. He expressed his concerns very clearly and exchanged his apprehensions. He was associated socially with many organisations but he always remained non controversial in life and in his soft spoken way defined people very diplomatically. I always cherished his company as he was a friend, philosopher and guide to me. I met him last month in his shop, when in my conscious mind I had a feeling; I hope this is not my last meeting with him.

My deepest condolences go to his family, as a very large protective shelter shall be missing, not only by them but by all of us. May his soul rest in peace! Jai SiyaRam.”