Thiru Vummidi Ethiraj, Craftsman Behind Parliament’s Sengol, Dies in Chennai
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Thiru Vummidi Ethiraj, the veteran jeweller associated with crafting the historic Sengol presented to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947, died in Chennai on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. He was reported to be 99 years old. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan expressed condolences over his death.
Modi remembered Ethiraj for his contribution to crafting the Sengol, which was installed in the new Parliament building in New Delhi in 2023. In a condolence message, the Prime Minister said Ethiraj’s life and craftsmanship connected India’s traditional heritage with its national journey.
PM Modi Recalls Meeting With Ethiraj in 2023
Modi said he had the honour of meeting Ethiraj in 2023, when the Sengol was given a place of prominence in the new Parliament building, near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair.
The Prime Minister said he had thanked the veteran jeweller for his contribution to the country and its culture. He also conveyed his condolences to Ethiraj’s family and admirers.
“His life and craftsmanship represent a remarkable connection between India’s glorious traditions and our national journey,” Modi said in his message.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also mourned Ethiraj’s death, acknowledging his contribution to preserving India’s jewellery-making traditions.
The Story Behind the Historic Sengol
The Sengol, a five-foot-long ceremonial sceptre, was crafted by the Chennai-based Vummidi Bangaru Chetty jeweller family in 1947. It was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru around the time of India’s Independence and later became associated with the transfer of power from British rule to an independent India.
Ethiraj was 22 years old at the time and worked with his brother on the project. The sceptre was commissioned through the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, a historic Shaivite religious institution in Tamil Nadu.
The Sengol remained relatively obscure for decades before renewed attention brought it back into the national spotlight. In 2023, it was installed in the new Parliament building during its inauguration, with the government highlighting its historical and cultural significance.
A Legacy of Jewellery Craftsmanship
Ethiraj was a senior member of the family behind Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, a Chennai-based business with a history spanning more than 125 years.
His association with the Sengol brought renewed recognition to the family’s craftsmanship and its role in creating an object that has become part of India’s contemporary parliamentary symbolism.
His death marks the passing of a craftsman whose work linked a family’s jewellery-making tradition with a significant chapter in the country’s history.
