Govind Dholakia

Govind Dholakia
Dholakia in 2011
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
from Gujarat
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 April 2024
Preceded byMansukh Mandaviya
Personal details
Born (1949-11-07) 7 November 1949 (age 76)
Dudhala, Gujarat, India
PartyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseChampaben Dholakia
Children3
Parent(s)Laljibhai Dholakia, Santokbaa Dholakia
OccupationBusinessman, politician
Known for
Diamonds Are Forever, So Are Morals by Penguin Random House
Nickname"Kaka"

Govindbhai Laljibhai Dholakia (born 7 November 1949) is an Indian businessman and politician. He has been serving as a Member of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since April 2024, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Early life

Dholakia was born in Leuva Patidar Family in Dudhala, Lathi taluka, Amreli district, Gujarat, into a farming family. He later moved to Surat in 1964 to support his family.

Career

Dholakia is the founder of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Private Limited, a diamond export enterprise based in Surat. In 2024, he was elected as the Rajya Sabha member representing Gujarat.

Philanthropy

In 2021, he donated ₹11 crore (US$1.1 million) to the construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

In 2022, Dholakia oversaw the transition of his hometown, Dudhala, to solar energy through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of his company.

Awards

In 2017, Govind received the Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

In media

Books

Shows

References

  1. ↑ Jaiswal, Arushi (15 February 2024). "Rajya Sabha elections: Surat diamond merchant Govind Dholakia richest among four BJP candidates". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Full list of winners in polls to 56 Upper House seats". Financialexpress. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Who Is Govindbhai Dholakia? Know All About Surat-Based Diamond Merchant Nominated by BJP As Rajya Sabha Member - www.lokmattimes.com". Lokmat Times. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Chitnis, Purva (15 February 2024). "Diamond merchant who donated 'generously' to Ram temple — who is BJP's RS nominee Govindbhai Dholakia". ThePrint. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ↑ "Shree Ramkrishna Exports Emerges As 2022 Hurun Most Respected Family Business Of The Year". Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Dholakia, Govind (6 May 2022). "How diamond tycoon Govind Dholakia made his first ever trade at the age of twenty-two". Scroll.in. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  7. ↑ PTI (20 February 2024). "J.P. Nadda, three other BJP candidates elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed from Gujarat". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "Govindbhai Laljibhai Dholakia(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):(GUJARAT) - Affidavit Information of Candidate:". www.myneta.info. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Diamond trader from Surat donates Rs 11 crore for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya". India Today. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Dudhala in Gujarat to become first village to be completely solarised by a foundation". Energy Economic Times. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Amreli's Dudhala to be India's first solar-powered village, a gift from businessman Govind Dholakia to his hometown". Divya Bhaskar. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "USGBC announces 2017 Leadership Awards". usgbc.org. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  13. ↑ "Brands of Tomorrow on Disney Hotstar | brands of tomorrow india". BOT.live. Retrieved 22 February 2025.