REWRITING A 100-YEAR LEGACY (PART-VIII)

How does a centuries-old jewellery tradition become one of the most desired choices of the youngest generation? A little over two decades ago, Kundan, Meena, Polki and Jadau jewellery operated within a far more concentrated traditional market, supported by a comparatively limited design vocabulary and artisan ecosystem. Then came a question: Why should heritage remain confined to those who inherited the tradition? Why can’t we make the next generation fall in love with it by choice? In this deeply personal account, Dr.Abhishek Gilara reflects on the fourth-generation journey of a jewellery legacy that began in 1921—expanding designs, developing artisan capabilities, understanding the modern bride, taking the craft pan-India, professionalising the organisation and eventually taking tradition into India’s public markets. But this is not merely a story about jewellery. It is a book about how legacy survives change. How creativity can turn tradition into desire. How customers can preserve crafts simply by wanting them. How systems can scale a family’s trust. How capital can strengthen culture when used responsibly. How public ownership transforms responsibility. And why the next generation must inherit relevance—not merely shares. From Johari Bazar to Dalal Street, and now towards the world, this is the story of a 106-year legacy refusing to become a museum of its own past. Because the greatest tribute to tradition is not to keep repeating what previous generations created. It is to understand their soul—and create what they would have created if they were living in your time. Tradition gave us the roots. Creativity gave us relevance. Trust gave us scale. Governance took us public. The next generation must take the legacy forward. The past has already been written. Our responsibility is to make sure the future is worthy of it.