A commemorative coin of Rs 25 will be issued in memory of the eminent social worker and Jain community leader.
By Lalit Garg
The Government of India has decided to issue a commemorative coin of Rs 25 on the 25th remembrance anniversary of Harakhchand Nahata, an eminent social worker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Jain community leader from Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Regarding the release of this coin, the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, has also issued a gazette notification on March 31, 2024, and this commemorative coin will be unveiled in a grand manner in Bikaner on the occasion of Basant Panchami on February 2, 2025.
According to Sudhir Lunawat of Bikaner, a famous currency expert who played a key role in getting this coin issued, the total weight of the coin, made by the Mumbai Mint of the Government of India, will be 40 grams and it will be made of pure silver. The total circumference of the coin will be 44 millimeters.
(Photo courtesy of the author)
On the front side of the coin, on the upper periphery of the picture of Harakhchand Nahata, the '25th Commemoration of Shri Harakhchand Nahata' will be written in Hindi, and on the lower periphery in English. To show his life span, 1936-1999 will be written on the right and left of the picture and the year of the 25th commemoration 2024 will be written below the picture.
On the other side of the coin, the denomination 25 will be written along with the symbol of the Ashoka Pillar, on the right and left of which India will be written in Hindi and English. Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Delhi Sabha President Sukhraj Sethia and Lalit Kumar Nahata said that the entire Jain community is filled with happiness due to the decision of the Government of India to issue a commemorative coin on Harakhchand Nahata, who was a man of great personality.
It is to be noted that the face value of the coin issued on the occasion of commemoration is kept in accordance with the occasion, while its distribution is done at a different price. This coin is also being issued on the 25th death anniversary, so the face value is Rs 25, while the estimated price of this coin, made of 99.9 per cent silver, will be around Rs 6000.
Wrestler and actor Dara Singh opened Harakhchand Nahata Marg in Delhi on March 1, 2007. (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)
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For Harakhchand Nahata's selfless service to society, India's Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 5. (Photo courtesy of the author)
Born in 1936 in a reputed family of Bikaner, Harakhchand Nahata was a social leader and philanthropic entrepreneur. Throughout his life, he actively participated in the work of countless top social and religious institutions across the country and contributed significantly to the promotion of social welfare, religion, art and culture, animal welfare, and public service.
He diversified his ancestral business areas and took the herculean initiative of building a road from Dharmanagar city of the northeastern state of Tripura to Agartala to solve the grave challenges in the lives of the tribals and accelerate economic development. He initially made Kolkata, Tripura, and Assam his karma Bhoomi and came to Delhi in 1971.
The world saw his dedication towards art and culture when the 'Technician Studio, Kolkata' was on the verge of closure due to financial constraints and poor conditions. On the request of its workers and technicians, Nahata stepped in and revived it with his strong will and efficient management and transformed it into a successful enterprise. After Nahata's management, many national award-winning films were produced in this studio. It is noteworthy that he made cine technicians and artists partners in it without taking money and encouraged their art.
The well-established Nahata family of Bikaner, famous for its contribution to literature, art and culture, has the country's largest and grand private collection of ancient manuscripts and artifacts. In honor of Harakhchand Nahata, a commemorative postage stamp was also issued by the Postal Department of India in the year 1999 on his death anniversary. One road each in Bikaner and Delhi has been named after Harakhchand Nahata. Apart from this, three statues of Nahata are installed in Bhati Village of South Delhi, Sitamarhi of Bihar, and Jharkhand.
