G.V. Sreedhar is well-known name in the jewellery trade of Indian but is an exemplary persona for the South of India. Starting as a bench jeweller at the tender age of 15, Sreedhar has changed the face of his family business. He started his career as his father’s assistance in a tiny room and a box of jewels and today owns a business sprawling over three floored jewellery mall known as Sree Rama Jewels. When asked if he always wanted to be a jeweller or had some other ambitions, pat comes the reply, “The answer to this question lies in my DNA. This trade has been passed on from one generation to another and I was lucky to inherit it in my DNA. What greater ambition could I have? Like they say, "born with a silver spoon", I believe I was the chosen one to continue the tradition and business and take it to greater heights.I was born into a jeweller’s family and started taking an active role in the business while lending my father a helping hand and learning the process. I was just 15 years old when I forayed into the trade.” %% Shreedhar was born in a small village called Ambur in Tamil Nadu and was later shifted to Andhra Pradesh to complete his schooling. He came to Bengaluru around 33 years back and he still remember the days when their business would start from a humble mat in a small room with just a box filled with jewels. He would melt gold and participate in every tiny aspect of jewellery business. “I launched our first ever showroom of 100 sq. ft around 25 years back and since then, there has been no looking back. In the next three years I launched another showroom of 250 sq. ft right on the main road and then four years later, I shifted my business to a huge showroom in the heart of Bengaluru which is also a jewellery hub.” %% With such tiny steps and strong determination, it was not too long ago that Sree Rama Jewels shifted to an 18,000 sq. ft, multistoriedjewellery store, one of the largest that Bengaluru had ever seen. Times were changing with immense pace and Sreedhar was in step with the evolving times. After the launch of this huge jewellery mall, Sreedhar decided to mordernise their logo and came up with the current logo of Sree Rama Jewels, which is young, fresh and dynamic. Sreedhar is a man of detail and deep attention is paid to customers’ every need. “I had launched this big retail space but the walk-ins were not as I had expected. About five years back I realized that parking was a hassle for most customers as it was the central part of the city. This affected my walk-ins adversely. I then started providing with parking facilities and since then, our business has surged,” he explains. %% To make and maintain such largejewellery empire is no easy feat but Sreedhar makes it look very easy as he talks about his occupation as one would about his passion. His personality is one of a merry maker and his optimism is contagious. We asked him about the inspirations in his life that make him so determined and successful. To that he says, “One can draw inspiration from very many brilliant and outstanding people in this world. There is no dearth of inspirational people. There are a lot of luminaries from whom I draw my inspiration. But even though I am not from the technology background I am truly inspired by Bill Gate. He after having amassed so much of money and fame, and being the richest person in the world, chose to shun everything and started a charitable foundation called the Melinda Gates Foundation which donates money across the world for needy causes. This spurred and inspired the Rock Of Omaha. Warren Buffetis also inspiration as he too joins hands in the endeavour to make this a better world.” %%

We then steer the conversation towards his family and Sreedhar has a smile on his face. He is a complete family man and leaves no stone unturned to ensure his family’s happiness and safety. “ My father, G.S.V. Ratnam always gave me a free hand and encouraged me to indulge in my passion to try out something new.My mother has been my source of inspiration. She has nurtured my aspirations and me and has supported me even when I was wrong. It is hard for me to visualize my life without her. My wife, Kavita Sreedhar has stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar. Without her by my side it would be difficult for me to have achieved all that I have. (I know there is much more to be achieved). She is the woman behind my success. And, the most important parts of my life are my daughters Nikita and Shradha. They always are a part of all my achievements. They are not only my kids, but also my friends,” shares he. %% Sreedhar met his wife, Kavita in a function and that is where he decided that she would be her life partner. They tied the knot around 22 years back in a love-cum-arranged marriage. Kavita has not only supported Sreedhar in a familial way but she also helped him in his business for many years. She has recently taken a break from business to concentrate on their two teenaged daughters. Their daughters are a dream come true for parents. The elder daughter, Nikita is a bright student and a rank holder. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Commerce degree. She aspires to be a student of a top management school for her master’s degree. She is interested in business and administration. Whereas the younger daughter is a creative mind. She loves to draw and paint and her father is very proud of her creativity. She aspires to become a jewellery designer. It can be said that it is one most desired combination forSreedhar where one daughter is inclined towards business and the other towards creativity. Both of which traits are the pillars of the jewellery industry. There is one more inescapable part of their family and that is their pet dog, Rocky who is a beautiful Golden retriever. Sreedhar is highly attached to their pet and takes him out for a walk every single night, no matter how late he is from work or how tired. “Rocky is a very close companion of our family. He comprehends everything that is told to him and is very obedient. He is my stress buster. He does not go out for a walk with anyone except me. He is three years old and one of my closest friends. Once I had an extremely bad day and was furious, Rocky understood that and came near me and calmed me down,” shares Sreedhar while taking us down his memory lane. %% Apart from being an entrepreneur and a family man, Sreedhar is also a part of three educational charitable trusts. In addition to this, he is the President of Jewellers Association of Bangalore and Regional Chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF). When quizzed if he gets any time for himself and his family due to his busy schedule, he states, “I wish I could make more time for myself and my family but I do spend every Sunday with them even though Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days at the showroom. I go out for movies with my family and other outings almost every Sunday. I also go out for holidays annually with my family. Holidays are my favorite time as I can spend time with my family continually. My first priorities are my daughters. As they are daughters and will leave us one day after their wedding, I want to spend as much time as possible with them right now,” says the doting father. %% “Switzerland is my favorite holiday destination,” he says quickly when asked about his favorite holiday destination. “I love being surrounded with greenery and I love the peace that nature has to offer. When I am in Bengaluru, I go to LalBagh as it is one of my favorite places that offers me calm and solitude,” he further adds. %%

Talking about his favorite food dishes and cuisines, he lets out a secret. “I love South Indian food. Even when am travelling or going out for dinners in fancy restaurants, I still prefer South Indian food,” he chuckles. “My favorite dish is Poori with typical south Indian Pallya and chutni. My wife cooks it for me. My wife is an amazing cook and she cooks with her heart. I love everything that she cooks for me. She works very hard in the kitchen, sometimes till late at night to present to us some different and spectacular dishes.” %% After holidays and foods, it was time to quiz him about his hobbies. To this he answers with a smile, “My wife and daughters love music and they have gradually enclosed me in their circle. I listen to western classical music as it makes me feel peaceful. I also read but am a slow reader. I love watching the news channels and I watch movies, sometimes. I recently watched the John Abraham movie, Madras Café and I really liked it.” %% As he hurries to wrap up the interview to make to his next appointment, we managed to ask him our last question about his hopes from the jewellery industry of India. “Our industry should become country’s Number One industry providing livelihood for a major section of the people. Jewellery in this country is steeped in tradition and it goes back to our ancient civilisation. I would like to see more karigars being trained. It should be as attractive to be a karigar as one would be if he were a software engineer. This is an industry, which will continue to grow. As long as people and women exist, this industry will exist,” he signs off. %%

G.V. Sreedhar is well-known name in the jewellery trade of Indian but is an exemplary persona for the South of India. Starting as a bench jeweller at the tender age of 15, Sreedhar has changed the face of his family business. He started his career as his father’s assistance in a tiny room and a box of jewels and today owns a business sprawling over three floored jewellery mall known as Sree Rama Jewels. When asked if he always wanted to be a jeweller or had some other ambitions, pat comes the reply, “The answer to this question lies in my DNA. This trade has been passed on from one generation to another and I was lucky to inherit it in my DNA. What greater ambition could I have? Like they say, "born with a silver spoon", I believe I was the chosen one to continue the tradition and business and take it to greater heights.I was born into a jeweller’s family and started taking an active role in the business while lending my father a helping hand and learning the process. I was just 15 years old when I forayed into the trade.” %% Shreedhar was born in a small village called Ambur in Tamil Nadu and was later shifted to Andhra Pradesh to complete his schooling. He came to Bengaluru around 33 years back and he still remember the days when their business would start from a humble mat in a small room with just a box filled with jewels. He would melt gold and participate in every tiny aspect of jewellery business. “I launched our first ever showroom of 100 sq. ft around 25 years back and since then, there has been no looking back. In the next three years I launched another showroom of 250 sq. ft right on the main road and then four years later, I shifted my business to a huge showroom in the heart of Bengaluru which is also a jewellery hub.” %% With such tiny steps and strong determination, it was not too long ago that Sree Rama Jewels shifted to an 18,000 sq. ft, multistoriedjewellery store, one of the largest that Bengaluru had ever seen. Times were changing with immense pace and Sreedhar was in step with the evolving times. After the launch of this huge jewellery mall, Sreedhar decided to mordernise their logo and came up with the current logo of Sree Rama Jewels, which is young, fresh and dynamic. Sreedhar is a man of detail and deep attention is paid to customers’ every need. “I had launched this big retail space but the walk-ins were not as I had expected. About five years back I realized that parking was a hassle for most customers as it was the central part of the city. This affected my walk-ins adversely. I then started providing with parking facilities and since then, our business has surged,” he explains. %% To make and maintain such largejewellery empire is no easy feat but Sreedhar makes it look very easy as he talks about his occupation as one would about his passion. His personality is one of a merry maker and his optimism is contagious. We asked him about the inspirations in his life that make him so determined and successful. To that he says, “One can draw inspiration from very many brilliant and outstanding people in this world. There is no dearth of inspirational people. There are a lot of luminaries from whom I draw my inspiration. But even though I am not from the technology background I am truly inspired by Bill Gate. He after having amassed so much of money and fame, and being the richest person in the world, chose to shun everything and started a charitable foundation called the Melinda Gates Foundation which donates money across the world for needy causes. This spurred and inspired the Rock Of Omaha. Warren Buffetis also inspiration as he too joins hands in the endeavour to make this a better world.” %%

We then steer the conversation towards his family and Sreedhar has a smile on his face. He is a complete family man and leaves no stone unturned to ensure his family’s happiness and safety. “ My father, G.S.V. Ratnam always gave me a free hand and encouraged me to indulge in my passion to try out something new.My mother has been my source of inspiration. She has nurtured my aspirations and me and has supported me even when I was wrong. It is hard for me to visualize my life without her. My wife, Kavita Sreedhar has stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar. Without her by my side it would be difficult for me to have achieved all that I have. (I know there is much more to be achieved). She is the woman behind my success. And, the most important parts of my life are my daughters Nikita and Shradha. They always are a part of all my achievements. They are not only my kids, but also my friends,” shares he. %% Sreedhar met his wife, Kavita in a function and that is where he decided that she would be her life partner. They tied the knot around 22 years back in a love-cum-arranged marriage. Kavita has not only supported Sreedhar in a familial way but she also helped him in his business for many years. She has recently taken a break from business to concentrate on their two teenaged daughters. Their daughters are a dream come true for parents. The elder daughter, Nikita is a bright student and a rank holder. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Commerce degree. She aspires to be a student of a top management school for her master’s degree. She is interested in business and administration. Whereas the younger daughter is a creative mind. She loves to draw and paint and her father is very proud of her creativity. She aspires to become a jewellery designer. It can be said that it is one most desired combination forSreedhar where one daughter is inclined towards business and the other towards creativity. Both of which traits are the pillars of the jewellery industry. There is one more inescapable part of their family and that is their pet dog, Rocky who is a beautiful Golden retriever. Sreedhar is highly attached to their pet and takes him out for a walk every single night, no matter how late he is from work or how tired. “Rocky is a very close companion of our family. He comprehends everything that is told to him and is very obedient. He is my stress buster. He does not go out for a walk with anyone except me. He is three years old and one of my closest friends. Once I had an extremely bad day and was furious, Rocky understood that and came near me and calmed me down,” shares Sreedhar while taking us down his memory lane. %% Apart from being an entrepreneur and a family man, Sreedhar is also a part of three educational charitable trusts. In addition to this, he is the President of Jewellers Association of Bangalore and Regional Chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF). When quizzed if he gets any time for himself and his family due to his busy schedule, he states, “I wish I could make more time for myself and my family but I do spend every Sunday with them even though Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days at the showroom. I go out for movies with my family and other outings almost every Sunday. I also go out for holidays annually with my family. Holidays are my favorite time as I can spend time with my family continually. My first priorities are my daughters. As they are daughters and will leave us one day after their wedding, I want to spend as much time as possible with them right now,” says the doting father. %% “Switzerland is my favorite holiday destination,” he says quickly when asked about his favorite holiday destination. “I love being surrounded with greenery and I love the peace that nature has to offer. When I am in Bengaluru, I go to LalBagh as it is one of my favorite places that offers me calm and solitude,” he further adds. %%

Talking about his favorite food dishes and cuisines, he lets out a secret. “I love South Indian food. Even when am travelling or going out for dinners in fancy restaurants, I still prefer South Indian food,” he chuckles. “My favorite dish is Poori with typical south Indian Pallya and chutni. My wife cooks it for me. My wife is an amazing cook and she cooks with her heart. I love everything that she cooks for me. She works very hard in the kitchen, sometimes till late at night to present to us some different and spectacular dishes.” %% After holidays and foods, it was time to quiz him about his hobbies. To this he answers with a smile, “My wife and daughters love music and they have gradually enclosed me in their circle. I listen to western classical music as it makes me feel peaceful. I also read but am a slow reader. I love watching the news channels and I watch movies, sometimes. I recently watched the John Abraham movie, Madras Café and I really liked it.” %% As he hurries to wrap up the interview to make to his next appointment, we managed to ask him our last question about his hopes from the jewellery industry of India. “Our industry should become country’s Number One industry providing livelihood for a major section of the people. Jewellery in this country is steeped in tradition and it goes back to our ancient civilisation. I would like to see more karigars being trained. It should be as attractive to be a karigar as one would be if he were a software engineer. This is an industry, which will continue to grow. As long as people and women exist, this industry will exist,” he signs off. %%

G.V. Sreedhar is well-known name in the jewellery trade of Indian but is an exemplary persona for the South of India. Starting as a bench jeweller at the tender age of 15, Sreedhar has changed the face of his family business. He started his career as his father’s assistance in a tiny room and a box of jewels and today owns a business sprawling over three floored jewellery mall known as Sree Rama Jewels. When asked if he always wanted to be a jeweller or had some other ambitions, pat comes the reply, “The answer to this question lies in my DNA. This trade has been passed on from one generation to another and I was lucky to inherit it in my DNA. What greater ambition could I have? Like they say, "born with a silver spoon", I believe I was the chosen one to continue the tradition and business and take it to greater heights.I was born into a jeweller’s family and started taking an active role in the business while lending my father a helping hand and learning the process. I was just 15 years old when I forayed into the trade.” %% Shreedhar was born in a small village called Ambur in Tamil Nadu and was later shifted to Andhra Pradesh to complete his schooling. He came to Bengaluru around 33 years back and he still remember the days when their business would start from a humble mat in a small room with just a box filled with jewels. He would melt gold and participate in every tiny aspect of jewellery business. “I launched our first ever showroom of 100 sq. ft around 25 years back and since then, there has been no looking back. In the next three years I launched another showroom of 250 sq. ft right on the main road and then four years later, I shifted my business to a huge showroom in the heart of Bengaluru which is also a jewellery hub.” %% With such tiny steps and strong determination, it was not too long ago that Sree Rama Jewels shifted to an 18,000 sq. ft, multistoriedjewellery store, one of the largest that Bengaluru had ever seen. Times were changing with immense pace and Sreedhar was in step with the evolving times. After the launch of this huge jewellery mall, Sreedhar decided to mordernise their logo and came up with the current logo of Sree Rama Jewels, which is young, fresh and dynamic. Sreedhar is a man of detail and deep attention is paid to customers’ every need. “I had launched this big retail space but the walk-ins were not as I had expected. About five years back I realized that parking was a hassle for most customers as it was the central part of the city. This affected my walk-ins adversely. I then started providing with parking facilities and since then, our business has surged,” he explains. %% To make and maintain such largejewellery empire is no easy feat but Sreedhar makes it look very easy as he talks about his occupation as one would about his passion. His personality is one of a merry maker and his optimism is contagious. We asked him about the inspirations in his life that make him so determined and successful. To that he says, “One can draw inspiration from very many brilliant and outstanding people in this world. There is no dearth of inspirational people. There are a lot of luminaries from whom I draw my inspiration. But even though I am not from the technology background I am truly inspired by Bill Gate. He after having amassed so much of money and fame, and being the richest person in the world, chose to shun everything and started a charitable foundation called the Melinda Gates Foundation which donates money across the world for needy causes. This spurred and inspired the Rock Of Omaha. Warren Buffetis also inspiration as he too joins hands in the endeavour to make this a better world.” %%

We then steer the conversation towards his family and Sreedhar has a smile on his face. He is a complete family man and leaves no stone unturned to ensure his family’s happiness and safety. “ My father, G.S.V. Ratnam always gave me a free hand and encouraged me to indulge in my passion to try out something new.My mother has been my source of inspiration. She has nurtured my aspirations and me and has supported me even when I was wrong. It is hard for me to visualize my life without her. My wife, Kavita Sreedhar has stood by me like the Rock of Gibraltar. Without her by my side it would be difficult for me to have achieved all that I have. (I know there is much more to be achieved). She is the woman behind my success. And, the most important parts of my life are my daughters Nikita and Shradha. They always are a part of all my achievements. They are not only my kids, but also my friends,” shares he. %% Sreedhar met his wife, Kavita in a function and that is where he decided that she would be her life partner. They tied the knot around 22 years back in a love-cum-arranged marriage. Kavita has not only supported Sreedhar in a familial way but she also helped him in his business for many years. She has recently taken a break from business to concentrate on their two teenaged daughters. Their daughters are a dream come true for parents. The elder daughter, Nikita is a bright student and a rank holder. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Commerce degree. She aspires to be a student of a top management school for her master’s degree. She is interested in business and administration. Whereas the younger daughter is a creative mind. She loves to draw and paint and her father is very proud of her creativity. She aspires to become a jewellery designer. It can be said that it is one most desired combination forSreedhar where one daughter is inclined towards business and the other towards creativity. Both of which traits are the pillars of the jewellery industry. There is one more inescapable part of their family and that is their pet dog, Rocky who is a beautiful Golden retriever. Sreedhar is highly attached to their pet and takes him out for a walk every single night, no matter how late he is from work or how tired. “Rocky is a very close companion of our family. He comprehends everything that is told to him and is very obedient. He is my stress buster. He does not go out for a walk with anyone except me. He is three years old and one of my closest friends. Once I had an extremely bad day and was furious, Rocky understood that and came near me and calmed me down,” shares Sreedhar while taking us down his memory lane. %% Apart from being an entrepreneur and a family man, Sreedhar is also a part of three educational charitable trusts. In addition to this, he is the President of Jewellers Association of Bangalore and Regional Chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF). When quizzed if he gets any time for himself and his family due to his busy schedule, he states, “I wish I could make more time for myself and my family but I do spend every Sunday with them even though Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days at the showroom. I go out for movies with my family and other outings almost every Sunday. I also go out for holidays annually with my family. Holidays are my favorite time as I can spend time with my family continually. My first priorities are my daughters. As they are daughters and will leave us one day after their wedding, I want to spend as much time as possible with them right now,” says the doting father. %% “Switzerland is my favorite holiday destination,” he says quickly when asked about his favorite holiday destination. “I love being surrounded with greenery and I love the peace that nature has to offer. When I am in Bengaluru, I go to LalBagh as it is one of my favorite places that offers me calm and solitude,” he further adds. %%

Talking about his favorite food dishes and cuisines, he lets out a secret. “I love South Indian food. Even when am travelling or going out for dinners in fancy restaurants, I still prefer South Indian food,” he chuckles. “My favorite dish is Poori with typical south Indian Pallya and chutni. My wife cooks it for me. My wife is an amazing cook and she cooks with her heart. I love everything that she cooks for me. She works very hard in the kitchen, sometimes till late at night to present to us some different and spectacular dishes.” %% After holidays and foods, it was time to quiz him about his hobbies. To this he answers with a smile, “My wife and daughters love music and they have gradually enclosed me in their circle. I listen to western classical music as it makes me feel peaceful. I also read but am a slow reader. I love watching the news channels and I watch movies, sometimes. I recently watched the John Abraham movie, Madras Café and I really liked it.” %% As he hurries to wrap up the interview to make to his next appointment, we managed to ask him our last question about his hopes from the jewellery industry of India. “Our industry should become country’s Number One industry providing livelihood for a major section of the people. Jewellery in this country is steeped in tradition and it goes back to our ancient civilisation. I would like to see more karigars being trained. It should be as attractive to be a karigar as one would be if he were a software engineer. This is an industry, which will continue to grow. As long as people and women exist, this industry will exist,” he signs off. %%