Jain Journal 1976 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 29

156
under the regime of Nawab Wazid Ali Shah, had become quite unsettled and unsafe for peace-loving citizens. The prospects of business at Lucknow had also become bleak in those days of downfall of Nawabi in Avadh. Therefore, the young, intelligent and ambitious Badridas thought it advisable to migrate to Calcutta which had almost settled conditions for life under British domain and had wider prospects for business. So with bag and baggage he migrated to Calcutta at the age of 21 about 1853 A.D. and established his ancestral business of jewellery there. He had full insight of this business. He was an industrious, tactful and honest trader of his times. The goddess of fortune also favoured him and in a very short time he was recognised as a reputed dealer in precious stones and jewellery not only by public but also by the Government. As a sequel to it, he was appointed as Mookim (Government jeweller) by the Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1871 A.D. At the time of the visit of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, in 1876 it was Seth Badridas who had many rare precious stones and pieces of jewellery in his possession which were displayed before the royal presence. In recognition of his services, prosperity and respectability the Government of India honoured him with the title of Rai Bahadur in 1877. After leading a respectable life of about 85 years Badridasji left for heavenly abode on Bhadrapada Shukla 2, V.S. 1974 (1917 A.D.).
JAIN JOURNAL
It appears that Jauhari Badridas as well as his father Kalkadas were the only sons of their parents while his gradfather Vijai Singh had a younger brother named Budh Singh. The presumption is based on the fact that Badridas who seemed to have great regard for his forefathers and kith and kin had got erected the statues of his father, grandfather and the latter's brother Budh Singh in his famous temple at Calcutta. He also built there a suitable memorial for his mother Khushal Kunwari. Seth Badridas had two sons named Raikumar Singh and Rajkumar Singh and a daughter Nanki Bibi who was married to Motilal Dhar. None of them are alive, not even his grandsons except one who is serving at Pavapuri (Bihar). Now in Calcutta only his great-grandsons are living and some of them are serving in commercial firms.
Rai Bahadur Badridas was very much influenced by his mother Khushal Kunwari. Like her he had a religious bent of mind. That is why he had built a Dehrasar or Caityalaya for daily worship of the Jina at his residence, 152 Harrison Road. He also used to pay his respects off and on to Yatis (Jaina Gurus) residing at Dadabari near Maniktalla in Calcutta. He associated himself with the management of Santinath Jinalaya as a trustee of that old and big Panchayati Swetambar temple at 139 Cotton Street, near Bara Bazar. He was one of the founders of a