Tanvir Kumar Chokshi Passes Away in Mumbai

Tanvir Kumar Chokshi, a member of the Committee of Administration, the apex body of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and a senior member of the Indian diamond industry, passed away in Mumbai on August 18.

Chokshi was also the managing director and one of the four permanent members of the board of directors of Diamond India Ltd, a consortium set up by 58 diamond manufacturer-exporter companies in India for the purposes of direct procurement of rough diamonds from the mining companies and countries.

He was an active member of the Mumbai Diamond Merchants Association (MDMA), the oldest industry body in Mumbai, currently celebrating its centenary year.

Chokshi will best be remembered for his pioneering role in the various educational and training initiatives of the Council. He had a long association with the Jewellery Product Development Centre (JPDC) in Mumbai, the first institute set up by the GJEPC in 1985 to conduct training courses in jewelry design, manufacture and gemology.

In the late 1990s, he was one of the key initiators of the move to set up a full fledged training institute. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) at Andheri, Mumbai in 2003 set up by the GJEPC and the Government of India. Chokshi served as the institute’s founder Chairman and remained so until his passing away.

Chokshi’s own company, Tanvirkumar Diamonds, has its offices in Panchratna in Opera House.