Respected Chief Guest, Shri Chandrakantbhai , our Guest of Honour Prof. A. K. Singh, Smt. Indira Vikamsey, President of the Forum, Shri K.K. Sharmaji, Convener of the 4th IGS, Smt. Dr. Jayshree Panjikar, distinguished guests, fellow Gemmologists and my students.

It is an immense pleasure for me to address this august gathering of the Indian gemologists on the occasion of the 4th IGS at Udaipur.

I feel really proud and satisfied myself for the achievement that we have made during the last 4 years of time since, 1999 .

I believe that it was a dream for many of us and for me and Dr. Jayshree it was one of our aims and missions in life to create such a common platform for the gemologists in India to nurture, share and flourish and spread the message of gemology to the length and breadth of the country.

In achieving this dream into a reality we are ever indebted to the efforts made by Shri Satishbhai Shah and Mrs. Purendershwari, in Hyderabad in 1999 to Shri Deepakbhai Bhagai in the year 2000 at Simla and to Shri Rajeshakaran at Ootty in the year 2001 for organizing the past Seminars. These seminars were so wonderfully organized that it had given an impetus to the future organizers and a confidence to the participants. The results of these efforts coupled with the magnificent and most efficient leadership of Shri K.K. Sharma has resulted in organising this most spectacular event for which we have gathered here today.

Friends, what we had witnessed in the past seminars and what we see here today can be best described as a miniature India, where the Gemmolgical fraternity has come together to exchange their views, share their ideas and knowledge with each other.

It is extremely satisfying to see the enormous interest and enthusiasm shown by many of you in keeping a date with the IGS every year.

This was the platform which the Forum wanted to dedicate to the Gemologists in India on a permanent basis. Here I would like to reiterate the aims and objectives of the IGS, as there are many new comers present over here. The IGS is an important event for all the Gemmologists in India because,

1. IGS is the only venue in India wherein you will be able to meet almost all your friends and colleagues in the profession.

2. This is the venue you are able to exchange your views and ideas with the fellow gemologists.

3. This is the seminar to keep yourself abreast with the latest developments that are taking place in the field of gemology around the world.

4. This is the place where you can develop newer contacts in the professional field as well as in business with the fraternity of gemmoloists and people connected with the field of gemstone from various parts of the country.

5. Seminar also throws more light into the market trends and demands of various gemstones around the globe.

6. IGS also helps to gain more knowledge about the allied subjects of gemology and gemstones, such as medico gemology and astrogemmology, etc.

Every one of us should bear in mind that this meet is not merely only for the high tech scientific deliberations. This is not a platform only for those highly qualified professional gemologists. This platform we want to open up and develop for the people who want to discuss about their experience in the business, in their profession connected to gemstones. Many of you are engaged in exports of gemstones, retailing of gemstones, manufacture of gemstones and jewelery in addition to your common interest in the science of gemstones and jewellery.

As you know that the experience is the best teacher. In Gemstone business and profession people always learn from their experience. You may be having your business established in a small town say in Kerala, Panjab or in Maharashtra, or in any part of the country. What are the gemstones found in your area or in your state ? How is the consumer behaviors in that region ? What are the type of gemstone in demand in that region ? What are the fashion trends and styles existing in that part of the country today and what is your specialization are some of the points of interest to your counterparts in other parts of the country. By exchanging such informations with your friends and fellow gemologists, you can positively have better business contacts and develop your business. .

In fact the Indian consumers of gemstones are more heterogeneous in terms of choice and taste as well as they are governed by strong customs and beliefs in matters connected to gemstones.

Domestic market in India is very vast . There are thousands of retail outlets are springing up every year all around the country catering to all types of customer needs.

Similarly purchasing capacity of the average city dweller has also gone up considerably.

Even the fashion trend in studded jewellery and awareness of gemstones in some of the small towns in India is at par with that of the major cities like Bombay or Delhi or Chennai, which in turn helps you to market your products more effectively.

Therefore this is the right stage, we the gemologists have a great responsibility and burden to shoulder. We have to educate the customers and the general public, who want to buy gemstones. Many of these customers do not have a proper knowledge about the gemstones. Under these circumstances Gemmologists have a very important role to play. The Gemmologists can inculcate the knowledge of gemstones in their mind,. It is necessary to create a rich and famous lore of gemstones in the minds of the people. We the gemologists could be messengers to tell the lovers of gemstones that the gemstones are not only for the celebrities and the page 3 personalities.

A dealer in gemstones can procure, design and make a beautiful piece of jewellery. But the end consumer should have the confidence in buying them. It is possible only when there are facilities for a customer to get these gemstones tested and verified as to what it is and also for its genuinety and quality. This involves educating the consumer in various aspects of gemstones. The knowledge of gemstones automatically opens up various avenues for employment opportunities as well. Even a small shop keeper who sells gemstones would also like to engage a gemologist to help his customers in building up confidence in them.

Under the circumstances, it is for the Gemmological Institutions like Gemmological Institute of India, Indian Diamond Institute , GAGTL, Jaipur, IGI New Delhi, Institute at Hyderabad and many others to have a renewed mission of spreading the knowledge of gemstones to the nuke and corner of India. Each and every student coming out from these institutions should also take up the responsibility of spreading the knowledge of gemstones to as many people as he can. This in turn will have a larger and wide spread effect . Talking to your own friends and acquaintances would itself create a chain effect in spreading the knowledge . Eventually even in the rural areas also people will be exposed to many gemstones .

There are many varieties of semi precious stones found in the country today. Nevertheless, the ignorance and lack of knowledge about the end use of these precious minerals, and its intricate beauty and value keep the general public away from buying them or using them in ornaments. If the people are taught about the values , its virtues and beauty of these gemstones found in and around their own land, it can create a sea of change in the society itself. It can create employment to lakhs of people, by way of mining , cutting and polishing, carving of articles, jewllery craft and many more.

This requires more and more support from the people who are sitting here. I want my students and fellow gemologists to take a vow to impart the knowledge of gemstones to any one who is interested in it. Forum shall appreciate if some of you could organize like-minded people to create awareness, interest and appreciation for gems. They could also organize field trips to collect minerals.

Friends, the knowledge is never to be kept tight to your chest. Open up and start disseminating it. Knowledge is the only commodity in this world that will increase as you go on distributing it. Unlike money or wealth, knowledge will never reduce if you give them out to others. This is the miracle of the Goddess Devi Sarashwati.

However use a some part of your earnings and wealth to educate your fellow members in the society and to educate yourself.
This simply leads me to call upon the most wealthiest industry in India to contribute a very small amount of the industry's earnings for the education of their own people and also for the scientific development of research and development in the Gemstone sector. We do not have an institution exclusively devoted to R & D only, like the other industry such as engineering, textiles, pharmaceutical etc.

It is very sad to say that not even one percent of our industry's earnings have been spent on Research and Development on Gemstone and Jewellery in India. Fortunately we have two institutions in the country which are R & D approved and recognized by the Department of Science and Technology one is the GII in the Bombay and another is IDI, at Surat. But due to paucity of funds both the institutes are not in a position to carry out all the R & D projects which would readily boost the product development of the Gem industry.

We can only request the parent organizations or the apex organization like the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council to consider supporting the R & D projects which are vital for the development of the industry. Israel is today recorded as one of the leading diamond exporting countries in the world in terms of value. It is only because of the scientific advancement and technological development they have achieved this feat.

Friends as you also know that 9 out of 10 diamonds sold in the world markets are cut and polished in India. The credit goes to the amazing skill of our artisans. Imagine, if those artisans have also been provided with scientific infrastructure what would have been the growth of our industry. Even at this stage if we do not create a very strong scientific foundation, the emerging neighbors especially China may take away all the cheese from our basket. It is therefore time for the industry to contribute their share for the scientific advancement of the industry.

I am of the opinion that a national level scientific research center should be evolved. It could be either at GII Bombay or at Surat at IDI. But it should be open for the people from any part of the country for carrying out the research studies on cost sharing basis.

Our Governments, state or central do not have enough finance to support their existing expenditure. How can you expect the government to set up research laboratory for Gem & Jewellery industry. R & D activities and studies may not be income generating in the initial stages. Therefore the industry or the institutions do not expect them to bring revenue from the R & D works undertaken by them. However in long run the institutions will be self supporting.

Therefore I shall be very happy if our respected Chief Guest Shri Chandrakantbhai Sahib, will be take the lead in establishing a National Center for Research Studies in the field of gemstones. On behalf of the Gemmologists in India I assure you sir, that the Forum will extend all the support and co-operation for establishing and running such a service centre in India for the benefit of the Indian Gem & Jewellery Industry. Sir this type of venture is only possible if person like you with your keen enthusiasm dedication and foresightedness takes up the lead

I now wish all the delegates a very informative seminar and an enjoyable stay at Udaipur.

Jai Hind.