Someone once said, “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” How true! Everyone goes through ups and downs that make or break us depending on how well we are able to withstand the pressure. Some struggle and give up and then some who never give in and keep pushing through to the surface, casting their radiance on the world as they rise to sparkle and shine.
Harish is one such gem who has managed to crave a path of his own to not only become an expert in precious gems and stones but also a guiding light of selfless and spiritual service to the community through his philanthropic acts.
The owner of Gems International of California, which deals in diamonds and colored gems, he has achieved success by following the path of honesty, hard work and sincerity – the values he absorbed from his parents and eldest brother.
Strong Role Models
Harish was born in Agra on June 4, 1948, to Indrakumari and Padamchand Jain. He was the ninth child of the family with only one brother younger than him. Though pampered by all his elder brothers, Mahendra, Shivchand, Udaychand, Kishanchand, Rameshchand, Prem, Prakash, Subhash, and also the other members of the joint family they lived with, Harish understood family requirements rather early.
The extended family was always in the gem business and circumstances forced the family to rethink their lives. He recalls, “Our family was in general merchandise business in Agra. When my father died, my uncle took over the business and we suffered so many losses that we were struggling for food”.
It was then that his eldest brother, Mahendra, decided to move the family to Jaipur in 1965. In 1967, Allied Gems Corporation was set up and soon became a formidable dealer of gems. “My eldest brother, who died this year, was the driving force behind this business. After 35 years in teaching, he decided to quit and start a business of his own. He worked hard to create a name in the market and our reputation has won us many awards from the Government of India for being the highest exporters in colored gems.”
Mahendra was always the trailblazer in many ways. Harish recalls, “He was advised by our maternal uncle, who was working with Indian Railways, to opt for teaching and that paved the way of all the other siblings to follow suit”.
Growing up, Harish found himself surrounded by strong role models such as his hardworking parents and brothers. “My parents were uneducated but they ensured that we were all educated to the highest degree. We are a family of teachers, engineers, lawyers, largely due to their support and encouragement.”
Harish was a bright student and considers his brother, Prem, his academic influence. Harish studied at DAV Inter College, Agra College, and then secured a seat at the very competitive University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee). “For a young boy, the trip from Agra to Roorkee was not an easy one. I had never been beyond Agra,” he says.
But little did he know that a bigger journey awaited him that would take toward a future of possibilities and lead him into the family business of precious gems in the most roundabout way.
Unearthing Possibilities
With a graduation degree in Electrical Engineering from Roorkee in 1969, Harish headed to the University of California, Berkeley, in 1970 to obtain a master’s in Computer Science, followed by an MBA from the University of Dayton, Ohio. The US was not without its challenges. “The US was a culture shock. It took me a while to adjust to it. Once my studies were over, I found plenty of opportunities. Back then, taking a green card meant enlisting in the US Military and without a green card, one couldn’t get a job, so I chose to start a business instead.”
He soon became one of the leading traders in precious stones and gems in the US, following in his eldest brother’s footsteps. “He was the father figure and I am blessed to have had his support and guidance.”
Harish’s experience in the business has given him a unique vantage point. Having seen enough failures, the septuagenarian uses them as a cautionary tale for others and emphasizes that life is not without its challenges. “In our industry, bankruptcy is one of the biggest challenges and I think we must always be ready and prepared to face that.”
He believes that the future of the industry is bright but says, “I think the jewelry industry needs to renavigate its business practices and rely more on digital media.”
Firm Family Foundations
Harish has charted a course of his own but it has been largely possible because of the spiritual guidance that he has received from his parents and the tremendous influences that his brothers have played in his life.
The other strong presence has been his wife and life partner, Sunila. Her father, who was also in the gems and jewelry business, often visited the US and he met Harish on one of these trips. When Harish met Sunila, he was impressed with her and they got married in 1974.
“She is also a high achiever and excelled academically.” Harish’s pillar of support and the mother of their two children, she is also determined and successful in her own right. She is part of the family’s very successful online jewelry venture called Angara Inc, which was established in 2008 by their two sons, Ankur and Ankit.
Ankur, who is married, has studied in Wharton and has an MBA from Harvard and has worked in many reputable firms before leaving to start Angara. Ankit is also part of Angara, having studied at California State University, Fullerton, and then gained his MBA from the University of La Verne. Both are a chip of the old block and have successfully managed to create an extension of the family business, taking it into the digital sphere and creating something very unique that borrows from their father’s wisdom and their own learning.
Gems of Goodwill
Over the years, Harish has accumulated not just material wealth, but also a treasure trove of experience that holds him in good stead. Pride would not be unbecoming for having achieved so much, yet he remains humble. Always motivated by his parents’ honesty, hard work and diligence, he also follows the goodwill philosophy of his eldest brother, who contributed to various philanthropic causes when he was alive. They had temples and dharamshalas (rest houses) built in Agra, Jaipur and Delhi.
Beyond all the work, he has his own ways to unwind. “Exercises are a part of my daily routine. I have always enjoyed tennis and photography. All our calendars of the business contain my photos. It gives me pure joy. I also enjoy listening to music. I love the yesteryear Bollywood singer, Mukesh.”
He believes that experience has been an important teacher and education has been one of the most vital experiences of his life. To pay forward, Harish plans to start a foundation in Jaipur that will focus on providing educational scholarships to those who need it. He wisely concludes, “True religion lies in practicing the basic human values of kindness, generosity more than adhering to ritualistic observances.”