This piece I dedicate in memory of our most respected and loved Parsi colleague in the Dawn Media Group , late Honourable Nilofer Patel, whose untimely death of pancreatic cancer left many of her colleagues saddened and shocked. Ironically prosperity is measured in wealth through properties, precious metals and stones when nothing lasts longer than its value except good memories and deeds, a harsh lesson that one learns the hard way.
This is story of the world’s largest diamond called Jubilee that is worn in this picture by lady around her neck wife of India’s biggest Industrial Empire Sir Dorabji Tata
This is a 254 carat Jubilee Diamond that doubles the world renowned “Koh-e-Noor” diamond in size and weight.Koh. e. Noor a cursed jewel that resulted sufferings of many Kings when one tried to rob the other to crown himself to be recognised as wearing the world’s most expensive jewel. Even if today either the Indians, Afghans or the Sikhs have a choice and the means they will not shy away to snatch it back from the British crown without realising the value of money is not in stones but what it is capable to do for others.
This jubilee diamond is one such classic example of the benevolence of its kind owners. In 1924 when there was recession in the world and the Tata company (TISCO) did not have money to pay employees, then Mehrbai had mortgaged this precious Jubilee Diamond to the Imperial Bank for Rs 1 crore so that employees continue to get salary and the company continues to run.
After her untimely death aged 52 years from blood cancer, Sir Dorabji Tata had established Tata Memorial Cancer Research Foundation by selling this diamond for better treatment of cancer patients in India. Though this business baron remained issue less buried next to each other yet Tata legacy continues to live and flourish with every passing day as Indian’s biggest Industrial giant.
The lesson the Jubilee diamonds gave as opposed to Kohi Noor that will always be looked down in history as a cursed jewel as compared to Jubilee Diamond a blessed jewel that helped many that proves the divine rule of giving to be the cardinal rule for any ever lasting legacy whether it be political,, religious or social : only those who gave selflessly lived always in history, as opposed those who got to enrich their own lives selfishly.
