Diamonds lose sparkle in Banaskantha

Palanpur, Mar 6 (UNI) Banaskantha district, particularly Palanpur, once home to cutting and polishing factories and many a jeweller, has now paled into insignificance, thanks to frequent communal riots which have ravaged the state in the past following the Babri demolition.

Today, the region has only memories of its lost glory and yearns for the lustre lost 15 years ago. However, the region smarts from the blow delivered during that social upheaval.

Palanpur diamond traders to this day, recall with a tinge of sadness the complete closure of trade for about two months. ''Had the Babri demolition not occurred, the region would have been living up to its traditional lifestyle as the place of fast paced diamond trade,'' is the lament of many in the region.

According to eminent lawyer Adv Shirishbhai Modi, associated with diamond-rich Palanpuris settled in Mumbai, Antwerp and other places, ''a prolonged closure of the market following continual curfew for more than two months in the city led the diamond and jewellery businesses to shift to Surat.'' ''This has made a heavy dent in the rural economy of Banaskantha, a backward region. Shifting of diamond trade also posed a question mark on the prospects of younger generations pursuing a career in diamond business,'' Mr Modi said adding that as many as 40-50,000 people engaged in the diamond business were rendered jobless in remote places of the district.

''As against 7,200 units in 1992, hardly a few hundred now survive, former president of Diamond Factory Owners Association (DFOA), Damraji Rajgaur said.

''The diamond has its roots entrenched in the psyche of Palanpur as almost 90 per cent of diamond business in the country belonged to them,'' Mr Ashish Mehta, a partner of Kantilal Chhotalal Diamond Export House said.

A nostalgic Arunbhai Mehta of Rosy diamond said, ''A needle shall always get stuck to a magnet. Palanpur is the place of our forefathers.'' ''How can we forget the obligation of the soil that we owe?'' ''The diamond rich Palanpuris' love and attachment for their native town is as the good as attachment to one's own mother,'' said Ashish Bhai Mehta of Kantilal Chhotalal Mehta.

Palanpuri diamond traders from here and overseas have donated over Rs 100 crore to the town and surrounding areas in charity for works like setting up of educational institutions, hospitals and community oriented projects, Mr Mehta said.

He said Palanpuri diamond traders held about 90 per cent of diamond trade in the world. Nine out of every 10 diamond traders in the world are Palanpuris, he said.

''Out of sheer love for their native soil, they set up cutting and polishing factories in Banaskantha,'' added Mr Mehta and questioned'' How long could one continue suffering losses?'' ''It is no longer affordable. One cannot withstand cut-throat competition due to the entry of Asian countries like Sri Lanka, China and others. This has come as a challenge.'' UNI