Vummidi Ethiraj, Jeweller Who Crafted Parliament's Sengol, Passes Away at 99

Vummidi Ethiraj, India's leading jeweller and patriarch of the Vummidi family, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday at the age of 99.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan expressed deep sadness and paid tribute to Ethiraj for his work in crafting the historic Sengol.

The gold-plated silver sceptre symbolised the handover of power in 1947 and was ceremonially installed in the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi on May 28, 2023.