Chennai: Vummidi Ethiraj, the master jeweller whose family helped craft the Sengol presented to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947, died in Chennai on Wednesday. He was 99.
Ethiraj, born on November 25, 1926, was the patriarch of the Vummidi family that owns the 125-year-old Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, and the last living link to the making of the Sengol — the gold-plated silver sceptre that symbolised the transfer of power from the British on the eve of Independence. The 5-ft sceptre, topped by a Nandi bull, was handed to Nehru on the night of August 14, 1947 by priests of the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, who had travelled from Tamil Nadu for the occasion.
The Sengol returned to national prominence decades later when Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially installed it near the Speaker's chair in the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023. Ethiraj was personally honoured at the time.
Modi said on X that he was 'deeply saddened' by the passing of 'Thiru Vummidi Ethiraj Ji', who 'will always be remembered for his efforts in crafting the historic Sengol that was presented to former Prime Minister Nehru'. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said he was deeply saddened and that Ethiraj's work on a 'sacred symbol of India's civilisational heritage' would be remembered with gratitude. Tamil Nadu Governor R.V. Arlekar also condoled the death.
His wife, Sumitra Vummidi, predeceased him. He is survived by three sons — Vijaya Bharathi, Uday Kumar Vummidi and Vijayendren Vummidi — grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His last rites were performed on Wednesday evening.