Rajnikant Jivraj Mehta, a Mumbai-based diamantaire who is well known for his philanthropical work, was recently felicitated in Juna Deesa for his achievements, his selfless social activity and his noteworthy contributions to society. The Jain Sangha in the town bestowed him with the title of Samaj Ratna, while other sections showed their appreciation in multiple ways.

A bust of Rajnikantbhai was unveiled at Shantidham, a project he had led, and a road starting from the Dhapuben Jivraj Nagardas School that he had founded in the town was also named as the Rajnikant Jivraj Mehta Marg. At a function in the school he was awarded the title of Philomath, Shikshan Ratna, while at a Panjrapole that he had set up in Madhuvan, he was bestowed with the award “The Godfather of all Sentient Animals”.

The felicitation was a tribute to his remarkable life journey which began in Juna Deesa in 1935 and the many challenges he overcame in the span of many decades of active work that took him to Mumbai, Palanpur, Navsari, Jaipur and other places where he eked out his living through various odd jobs and professions, before finally entering the diamond business in the 1950s.