Viktorikoa at 08:41, 9 April 2026

2026-04-09T08:41:45Z

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{{Short description|Indian businessman and politician (born 1949)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Govind_Dholakia.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|11|01|df=yes}}
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]<br/> from [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat|Gujarat]]
| term_start = 3 April 2024
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| occupation = Businessman, politician
| birth_place = [[Dudhala]], Gujarat, India
| parents = Laljibhai Dholakia, Santokbaa Dholakia
| spouse = Champaben Dholakia
| siblings =
| children = 3
| nickname = "Kaka"
| predecessor = [[Mansukh Mandaviya]]
| known_for = ''[[Diamonds Are Forever, So Are Morals]]'' by [[Penguin Random House]]
| caption = Dholakia in 2011
}}

'''Govindbhai Laljibhai Dholakia''' (born 1 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaiswal |first=Arushi |date=2024-02-15 |title=Rajya Sabha elections: Surat diamond merchant Govind Dholakia richest among four BJP candidates |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/gujarat/rajya-sabha-elections-surat-diamond-merchant-govind-dholakia-richest-among-four-bjp-candidates-2024-02-15-917096 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Full list of winners in polls to 56 Upper House seats |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-elections-2024-full-list-of-winners-in-polls-to-56-upper-house-seats/3406893/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Dholakia was born in [[Leva Patel|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-02-14 |title=Who Is Govindbhai Dholakia? Know All About Surat-Based Diamond Merchant Nominated by BJP As Rajya Sabha Member - www.lokmattimes.com |url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/who-is-govindbhai-dholakia-know-all-about-surat-based-diamond-merchant-nominated-by-bjp-as-rajya-a517/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Lokmat Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chitnis |first=Purva |date=2024-02-15 |title=Diamond merchant who donated 'generously' to Ram temple — who is BJP's RS nominee Govindbhai Dholakia |url=https://theprint.in/politics/diamond-merchant-who-donated-generously-to-ram-temple-who-is-bjps-rs-nominee-govindbhai-dholakia/1966949/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career==
Dholakia is the founder of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Private Limited, a diamond export enterprise based in Surat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shree Ramkrishna Exports Emerges As 2022 Hurun Most Respected Family Business Of The Year|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/shree-ramkrishna-exports-emerges-as-2022-hurun-most-respected-family-business-of-the-year/articleshow/97605551.cms|access-date=2023-02-04|website=Times of India| language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dholakia |first=Govind |date=2022-05-06 |title=How diamond tycoon Govind Dholakia made his first ever trade at the age of twenty-two |url=https://scroll.in/article/1023326/how-diamond-tycoon-govind-dholakia-made-his-first-ever-trade-at-the-age-of-twenty-two |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, he was elected as the [[Rajya Sabha]] member representing [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2024-02-20 |title=J.P. Nadda, three other BJP candidates elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed from Gujarat |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jp-nadda-three-other-bjp-candidates-elected-to-rajya-sabha-unopposed-from-gujarat/article67868240.ece |access-date=2024-03-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Govindbhai Laljibhai Dholakia(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):(GUJARAT) - Affidavit Information of Candidate: |url=https://www.myneta.info/rajsab09aff/candidate.php?candidate_id=1057 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=www.myneta.info}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
In 2021, he donated {{INRConvert|11|c|lk=on}} to the construction of the Ayodhya [[Ram Mandir]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diamond trader from Surat donates Rs 11 crore for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/diamond-trader-govindbhai-dholakia-surat-donates-rs-11-crore-ram-temple-construction-ayodhya-1759375-2021-01-15 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=India Today |date=15 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Dholakia oversaw the transition of his hometown, Dudhala, to solar energy through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of his company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dudhala in Gujarat to become first village to be completely solarised by a foundation |url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/dudhala-in-gujarat-to-become-first-village-to-be-completely-solarised-by-a-foundation/89912281 |website=Energy Economic Times |date=2022-02-19 |access-date=2024-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amreli's Dudhala to be India's first solar-powered village, a gift from businessman Govind Dholakia to his hometown |url=https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/amreli/news/amrelis-dudhala-to-be-indias-first-solar-powered-village-a-gift-from-businessman-govind-dholakia-to-his-hometown-129863669.html |website=Divya Bhaskar |date=2022-02-19 |access-date=2024-03-22}}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2017, Govind received the Leadership Award from the [[U.S. Green Building Council]] (USGBC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgbc.org/articles/usgbc-announces-2017-leadership-award-recipients|title=USGBC announces 2017 Leadership Awards |website=usgbc.org|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref>

==In media==
===Books===
* {{cite book |last1= Tiwari|first1=Arun |author-link1=Arun Tiwari|last2=Yagnik |first2=Kamlesh |date=2022 |title=Diamonds Are Forever, So Are Morals|title-link=Diamonds Are Forever, So Are Morals |language=English |publisher=[[Penguin Random House]] |isbn=9789391149895}}

=== Shows ===

* [https://www.hotstar.com/in/shows/brands-of-tomorrow/1260147774 Brands of Tomorrow], Season 2 on [[Disney+ Hotstar|JioHotstar.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brands of Tomorrow on Disney Hotstar {{!}} brands of tomorrow india |url=https://www.brandsoftomorrow.in |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=BOT.live |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dholakia, Govind}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat]]
[[Category:People from Surat]]
[[Category:1949 births]]

Govind Dholakia - Revision history

Viktorikoa at 08:41, 9 April 2026