Sureshbhai Choksi

Sureshbhai Keshavlal Choksi, who passed away in London recently, was among the pioneers who helped the Palanpuri community develop its strong presence in the global diamond trade. He was also known for his many interests which included activity in the social, cultural and philanthropic fields.
 

Sureshbhai left India in the 1950s, and after an initial period spent in Switzerland and Germany, moved to London, where he finally settled, perceiving many post-war opportunities in the diamond trade. He established the first office of an Indian diamantaire in London’s Hatton Garden in the 1960s, and was the first Indian to be elected to the London Diamond Bourse. Subsequently, he was also elected to the Committee of the London Diamond Club in the 1970s.

During the 1960s to 1980s, Sureshbhai made numerous business trips to some of the most inaccessible parts of the world such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Colombia, in pursuit of new opportunities. These were dangerous, war-torn areas where diamond and emerald mining took place. He also happened to be in the Golan Heights during the six-day war between Israel and the Arab states in the late 1960s and he was even invited by The Shah of Iran to his palace shortly before the Revolution took place in 1979!  

During these decades, he was actively involved with the diamond trade in London, and was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the industry.

 With Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries

During these decades, he was actively involved with the diamond trade in London, and was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the industry.

Meanwhile, in the mid-1960s, Sureshbhai, who continued to focus primarily on the diamond business, also set up London’s first Indian vegetarian restaurant, Sharuna. This not only catered to travellers from India but was also visited by British establishment notables and stars including the Beatles.
 

Sureshbhai was instrumental in setting up the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London in 1972, following a request for assistance from the BVB authorities in India. It was inaugurated by Lord Mountbatten, and supported by the Indian High Commissioner, Shri Apa Pant.  Sureshbhai donated funds to buy the building and employ staff. Later, in 1978, funds were raised and donated by the Committee (Sureshbhai was the Treasurer) for purchase of a new, larger building. Amongst the many dignitaries invited by Sureshbhai to attend the opening were Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Prime Minister Jim Callaghan, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher and Lata Mangeshkar. 

 With Lata Mangeshkar and other dignitaries

His philanthropic ventures ranged from mentoring and supporting newcomers in the diamond business to taking over a government school in Bangalore in 2001, providing full time education to the children of labourers, which he remodelled and modernised. The new Government Kannada-Telugu Model Primary School, as it is known, was inaugurated by the Education Minister of the Govt. of Karnataka, Shri H. Vishwanath. Sureshbhai ensured that its standards were raised to match some of the best private schools in the city. The Rotary Club of Bangalore honoured Sureshbhai for his charitable work. The school is now thriving under the auspices of another charitable trust which is taking forward the project fulfilling Sureshbhai’s guiding principles.

Sureshbhai’s recent passing was not only mourned by his Indian friends and colleagues, but also by the Jewish diamond community in London who sent their sincere and wholehearted condolences to the family.

Click here to view more pics including with celebrties Prince Charles (now King Charles III, then British PM James Callaghan, then Indian High Commissioner to UK Shri Apa Pant, film star Omar Sharif and others