Skip to main content

Beyond Jewellery: Gold is Unspoken Guardian & Trusted Ally

 


By Namrata Kohli

Columnist- WomanWise

Did you know that the sheer volume of gold owned by the Indian woman surpasses the combined reserves of the top five gold-holding countries: USA, Germany, Italy, France, and Russia, as per the latest report by World Gold Council. We hold a staggering 24,000 tons of gold, which is far more than any country's gold holdings individually. What’s more, the quantity is growing with each passing year despite the fact that the gold rate has been increasing.

Even the latest Deloitte report "Sparkling Success: Renaissance in India's Gems and Jewellery Sector" states that “Gold remains the dominant choice for jewellery, with a 97% preference.”

Have you ever wondered why this gold fixation even though the jewellery and big fat Indian wedding circuit is largely dominated by Kundan, Polki and diamonds. These may be admired for their aesthetic appeal, but gold has outdone any other jewellery simply because gold is beyond jewellery. For generations, Indian women have seen gold as a form of liquid savings that can be leveraged during times of need, providing a sense of economic independence.


Let me elaborate on this point. During the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, entire communities were displaced, and many lost access to their homes, belongings, livelihoods. But for these fisherwomen wearing gold on their bodies, this gold became their lifeline – they sold their jewelry to buy essential supplies, rebuild homes. And that is why even though gold prices have been galloping Indians continue to invest in this metal. Today if the price of gold is, for example, ₹6,000 per gram (as of recent market trends), 10 grams of gold would be worth ₹60,000. This amount could cover a month's rent in many Indian cities (tier-2 or tier-3 cities) or buy you a high-quality smartphone or sponsor a domestic vacation.

The best part is that it’s a “secret resource” of women that can be controlled by her independently, be used to meet unforeseen needs without dependence on others and hence a source of empowerment.

Heard of Stridhan, where stri means woman and dhan means property – it mostly included jewelry made of gold given by the girl’s parents, husband or in-laws during and throughout her married life, on which she has absolute ownership. It also carries sentimental value— as gold is gifted during milestone occasions and carries love, memories, and blessings. It’s a symbol of heritage as gold is often passed down through generations, becoming a tangible connection to ancestors and family legacy and a continuity of traditions.



“If you see any statues, sculptures of ancient India, you may still find figures without clothes but never without jewelry,” this fact was narrated by Rajiv Arora, founder of Amrapali Jewels. He told me that in India, devi-devta are always wearing ornaments. If we go far back in time, jewelry was not just an adornment, but it had therapeutic and medicinal value. There was an ornament for every part of one’s body – mathapatti for the head, nath for the nose, earring, choker for the neck, bajubandh for the arms, belt, hathphool for the hand, kade or bangles for the wrist and feet, bichua for feet’s toe, and so on. There were acupuncture points on the nose and ears and people always believed that it’s good for health. If you wear a kamarbandh (jewelry for the waist) or a hasli (collar-like necklace) and you walk, your waist or neck will never bend and your spine will be erect due to the weight of stiff silver, copper, gold and brass ornaments.



Then how come “no engagement is complete without a diamond ring” theory has gained ground. This was a bunch of lies peddled by De Beers years back. They created this powerful ‘Engagement Ring Story’ that still rules the minds of many – no engagement is complete without a diamond ring. It was marketed as a symbol of love and commitment; but financially, it isn’t actually an asset at all. If you know the truth, diamonds are intrinsically worthless – this was an open confession from former De Beers Chairman and billionaire Nicky Oppenheimer. The fact is that diamonds actually decay, faster than most rocks and, therefore, diamonds are not forever. De Beers knew their product was not intrinsically valuable like gold or silver, so they hired the ad agency N.W. Ayer in the early 1900s, who successfully turned a failing market into a psychological necessity. This big branding exercise by De Beers actually manipulated the demand for diamonds, positioning it as a symbol of wealth, power and romance, changing the social attitudes and convincing people that every marriage needs a diamond ring.

But in the search of the diamond, let’s not lose our gold. Because gold is beyond jewellery – it is the unspoken guardian and the trusted ally of Indian women in a patriarchal society.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Telemedicine to the aid of home-bound patients in the time of Covid-19

Telemedicine in covid-19 times: You can get to the doctor almost anytime, anywhere, be it on your screen, via voice or plain text for a lower price than in-person consult Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Telehealth is bridging the gap between patient and physicians. The physician can now virtually visit the stay-at-home patient and heal from a distance Telemedicine in covid-19 times:  When 37-year-old Priyanka was down with fever and dry cough, she decided to consult a doctor over a WhatsApp call before giving her blood sample for an RT-PCR test. Based on her symptoms, the physician alerted her that it wasn't a mild Covid infection but a moderate one. His diagnosis was confirmed when the test report showed a viral load count of 20. “The massive benefits of telemedicine became evident during the pandemic,” says Priyanka’s doctor, New Delhi-based consultant physician Dr Arvind Kumar. “Everything is about time and if my patients have complications late at ni...

A good racket: How India is courting Pickleball, 'game of the people'

  Pickleball India: From Backyard Game to Breakout Sport “Pickleball is my 3F formula—Fitness, Friends, and Fun!” – Says Rihanna Anand, a 35 year old Delhi based homemaker – “I’m no athlete, but even I can smash it on court. Every morning at 8 sharp, you'll find me and my Vasant Vihar gang swinging paddles and laughing our way through doubles. Who needs a gym when you’ve got this?” It all began with a paddle and a plastic ball. Today, pickleball—the quirky lovechild of tennis, badminton, and table tennis—is the fastest-growing sport in India. From luxury townships and corporate campuses to schools and weekend turf courts, the game is sweeping the country with a racket. What is Pickleball—and Why is Everyone Obsessed? Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball was designed as a backyard game for families. Played on a court similar to badminton with a 34-inch net, it involves smacking a perforated plastic ball with a paddle. The rules are easy to learn, the rallies...

Rise of the robot cleaners: Are these devices worth the hype and the cost?

  Picture this: A disc-shaped device gliding across your living room, mapping, sweeping, mopping—cleaning your floors while you sip your chai or take Zoom calls. Once a futuristic luxury, robotic vacuum cleaners have now entered the Indian mainstream. The question is—are they worth the investment? Rise of the robot cleaners: Are robotic vacuums worth the hype—and the spend? By Namrata Kohli Delhi based (retired) Indian Navy Officer Niladri Bose and his wife Priyanka, recently went for an overhaul in their lifestyle, from a servant cleaned home to a cleaning robot. Says Niladri Bose- “Over the years, we found ourselves increasingly dissatisfied with the way our home was being cleaned. While our domestic help was sincere, the quality of cleaning was inconsistent and often left much to be desired. The situation became particularly frustrating on days when she was unavailable. With our busy schedules and the desire for a consistently clean-living space, we began thinking: is there a be...