National News
Celebrating 100 years of Bhima Jewellery:Coffee table book launched at GJS 2025 to mark Bhima Jewellery’s centenary
Trust, tradition, and timeless craftsmanship took center stage as the Indian jewellery fraternity came together to commemorate a historic moment—100 years of Bhima Jewellery. The centennial celebration was marked by the grand unveiling of a commemorative coffee table book at the prestigious GJS 2025 chronicling the illustrious journey of one of India’s most respected jewellery houses.
The book, a visual and narrative tribute, beautifully captures the evolution of Bhima Jewellery—from a modest store established in 1925 by visionary founder Bhima Bhattar to a household name synonymous with quality, trust, and excellence in jewellery.
Addressing an emotional gathering, Dr. B Govindan, Chairman of Bhima Jewellery, reflected on the brand’s humble origins in Kerala. With heartfelt reverence, he paid tribute to his father, Bhima Bhattar, whose entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to integrity laid the foundation for the century-old legacy.“This is not just a celebration of a business milestone,” Dr. Govindan said, “but a testament to the enduring values that have guided us—trust, craftsmanship, and our deep-rooted connection with our customers. I express my deepest gratitude to the entire jewellery fraternity for their unwavering love and support throughout this journey.”
Industry veterans, peers, and admirers lauded Bhima Jewellery’s role in shaping India’s modern jewellery landscape while staying true to its traditional roots. The event was a blend of nostalgia and pride, underscoring how heritage brands like Bhima continue to inspire generations in a rapidly evolving industry.
The coffee table book, rich with archival photographs, design evolution, family anecdotes, and cultural context, now stands as a collector’s piece and a symbol of enduring legacy—celebrating not just 100 years of Bhima, but also a century of trust.
Joining Dr B Govindan , Jaya Govindan and Suhas MS , MD Bhima Jewellery in the celebrations were Rajesh Rokde,Chairman GJC, Avinash Gupta Vice Chairman GJC, Saiyam Mehra IPC GJC and Convenor GJS,Sachin Jain, Regional CEO India-World Gold Council, Vaishali Banerjee, MD – Platinum Guild International (PGI), India,
Dr Chetan Kumar Mehta, President – Jewellery Division – IBJA, President – JAB, CMD Laxmi Diamonds, Bengaluru and Sumesh Wadhera, MD – AOJ Media.
India’s appetite for borrowing against gold is reshaping the country’s credit landscape. Outstanding gold-backed loans have surged 128% from a year earlier, crossing Rs.4 lakh crore ($48 billion) for the first time, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India. As of Jan. 31, loans secured by gold jewellery stood at Rs.4,00,517 crore, marking one of the fastest expansions in retail credit in recent years.
The boom in gold loans has helped propel overall non-food bank credit growth to 14.4% year-on-year. Personal loans now account for 34.5% of total bank lending, outpacing other segments and underscoring a broader shift toward consumer-driven credit expansion
Gold loans alone contributed roughly 9% of incremental bank credit during the period. Between January 2024 and January 2026, outstanding gold-backed credit rose by nearly Rs.3.1 lakh crore—an increase of about 338% over two years—more than quadrupling the size of the portfolio.
Two factors are driving the surge. First, gold prices have climbed roughly 152% over the past two years, increasing the collateral value of household holdings. Second, regulatory guidance requiring banks to classify loans secured by gold explicitly as gold loans has sharpened reporting and accelerated balance-sheet growth in the segment.
The trend highlights a distinctive feature of India’s financial system: households’ vast stock of physical gold, long viewed primarily as a store of wealth, is increasingly being mobilized as collateral for formal credit.
While personal lending and credit to nonbank financial companies within the services sector continue to expand rapidly, industrial credit remains uneven. Loans to micro, small and medium enterprises are growing steadily, but borrowing by large corporations has stayed relatively muted.
Since March 21, 2025, banks have added Rs.21.8 lakh crore to their non-food loan books, translating into 12% growth for the financial year to date. Yet it is gold—rather than factories or infrastructure—that is emerging as one of the most dynamic engines of India’s current credit cycle.
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