A Mumbai-based artist, who crafted a stunning portrait of the late Ratan N. Tata using 12,000 large and small diamond pieces, has made the heartfelt decision to auction his glittering creation for charity. Shailesh Acharekar, the artist who shares a birthday with Ratan Tata, had originally intended to personally present the unique artwork to the industrialist on his upcoming birthday, December 28.
“I had specially created this for Ratan Tata Sir. I was hoping to meet, greet and gift it to him personally on his next birthday. Due to his sad passing, my dream has remained unfulfilled…” a saddened Acharekar told IANS. Earlier this year, Acharekar conceived the idea of crafting something extraordinary to honor the living ‘gem’ Ratan Tata, leading to the creation of the diamond portrait.
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Acharekar undertook the monumental task of creating a dazzling portrait using approximately 12,000 large and small diamonds of mixed variety, meticulously arranged on a 3×4 feet matte blackboard (composite panel). It took him six months of hard work, dedication, and emotional investment to complete the stunning diamond portrait, with the hope of personally presenting it to Ratan Tata as a tribute to his exceptional contributions to the nation.
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However, the world was left in mourning on October 9, following the passing of the legendary industrialist, as tributes poured in honoring his legacy. “Unfortunately, Ratan Tata is no longer with us. But to honour his noble ideas and as a tribute to his memory, we have decided to sell/auction off this painting. We plan to dedicate its proceeds for some charitable cause dear to his heart, like the welfare of dogs, especially since I also love these faithful canines,” said Acharekar.
Similarly, in Pune, a young woman named Rajashri Nitin Bhagawat has become a social media sensation for creating an impressive 20×20 feet (400 sq. feet) rangoli of Ratan Tata within a map of India—completed in just three hours—at Pimpri-Chinchwad Polytechnic College.
Rajashri, 28, a self-taught artist, has been pursuing her passion full-time since the age of 13, earning her an honorary doctorate. Accompanied by her husband Nitin and their 3-year-old son Viraj, she travels by scooter to create colorful rangolis along the entire 250-km Alandi-Pandharpur route for Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s annual ‘palkhi’ (palanquin) procession in June-July.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Acharekar expressed that although he plans to auction Ratan Tata’s diamond portrait, “his personality, achievements, and contributions are invaluable” to both the country and society.
New York-based NRI diamantaire Ketan R. Kakkad described the portrait as a “masterpiece,” cautiously estimating its value to be around Rs 3-5 crore, with a precise figure possible only after thorough evaluation. “Ratan Tata has left his imprint on the whole world, his contributions cannot be valued or measured, but the masses’ love for him will remain forever, just like diamonds,” Kakkad told IANS.
Acharekar, who had previously created a portrait of the late Balasaheb Thackeray using 27,000 diamonds in June 2024, agreed, adding that Ratan Tata’s humility and dedication to social causes will inspire generations to come. “We hope to make a small contribution as a tribute to his charitable initiatives” through the painting, he said.
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