Prakash Mehta (on l) and Atul Kothari (2nd from l) with other honorees and IDCA leaders

The Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association (IDCA), New York honored two members of the community, Atul Kothari and Prakash Mehta, both veterans of the gem & jewellery industry, for their leadership qualities at the organisation’s Annual Diwali Gala held in New York on November 2, 2021. HE Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India, New York, was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.
 

Atul Kothari received the Business Leader of the Community Award with the citation: “In Recognition and Appreciation of Outstanding Vision and Leadership in the Jewelry Industry”. 

Prakash Mehta was presented with the Leader of the Community Award with the citation: “In Recognition and Appreciation for Outstanding Leadership and Guidance to our Community”.

The IDCA, established in 1984, is a leading Not-For-Profit organization, formed to associate its members for their mutual benefit as traders of diamonds, colorstones and jewellery. It is an active, well-known and widely-respected trade body formed by members of the expatriate Indian community.

The following are brief profiles of the two awardees, summarised from the IDCA’s publication released at the event: 

Atul Kothari - Business Leader of the Community Award

Atul Kothari was born in Burma in 1956 into a diamantaire family which his father began. He joined the family business at the age of 18 and set out on a journey to expand its reach internationally, having worked to fuel the growth of Jewelex through various endeavours across multiple segments deepening the company’s portfolio during this period. He lived in Antwerp earlier in his career when setting up an establishment there and later shifted to New York to begin the US segment of the business with his two partners Shrenik Doshi and Ravi Naik. At present Atul Kothari is Chairman of Jewelex Group of Companies. He is also a Past President of the IDCA.

Haridas Kotahwala, President IDCA, said that Atulbhai “is a visionary who has demonstrated outstanding and exceptional leadership qualities”.

Atulbhai's values are deeply rooted in a humanistic philosophy, and he credits his success to the lessons taught by his late father Shantilal Kothari, lovingly referred to as "Bapaji". He is grateful to elder brothers Pravinbhai and Piyushbhai for laying a business platform and for their guidance.

Besides his involvement in his family business, Atulbhai Kothari has been involved in philanthropy and supporting various charitable causes as well as quiet personal extensions of support. He is driven by a passion for relationship building, product innovation, aesthetics and design, and finds true meaning in encouraging individuals to help each other.

Atulbhai feels truly complemented by Pritiben, who is the best essence of a life partner and admires his son Sahil who seeks to create a new reality and his socially impactful daughter Saheli, now married to Dr Vijay Palvia.

Prakash Mehta - Leader of the Community Award

Prakash Mehta is an Electrical Engineer by education, who began his career working with the Rajasthan State Electricity Board in different parts of the state. He developed his core belief in interrelations and connectivity during this period and carried these values when he ventured into the jewellery industry in USA, setting up Interings, Inc in 1981. 

Over the years he grew the business as a successful diamond and jewellery dealer in the USA. Prakash Mehta is recognised for his dedication and devotion to crafting well-conceived and designed marketing and manufacturing campaigns to benefit the retail trade. He has also been actively associated with the IDCA since its inception years and has been a member of the Board on and off from 1987 onwards, and continuously since 2007 as Director, Secretary and as President in 2015.

IDCA President Haridas Kotahwala described Prakashbhai as one who “has always strived to bring the community together and add value to IDCA.”

Mehta is supported in the business by his wife Saryu and son Bhavin. His younger son Gaurav is in the healthcare sector. 

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