VBJ Partners With Ignition 2026 To Celebrate Ideas, Culture And Craftsmanship

2026-07-16 09:21:51 Lifestyle

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Chennai, 3rd July 2026: VBJ, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, one of South India's most trusted heritage jewellery brands, partnered with IGNITION, the acclaimed thought leadership platform presented by the Shiv Nadar Foundation and curated by award-winning journalist Shoma Chaudhury. Held at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, the event brought together distinguished voices from diplomacy, cinema and international affairs, while VBJ showcased its latest PARRO – Signature Collection, celebrating exceptional craftsmanship inspired by nature.

The evening featured compelling conversations with Dr. Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of Iran's Supreme Leader, who shared perspectives on the evolving geopolitical landscape in West Asia; acclaimed actor Ali Fazal, who reflected on his artistic journey from Indian cinema to Hollywood; and former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, who discussed the changing global order and insights from his latest book, China's Wars.

Adding an artistic dimension to the evening, VBJ unveiled a curated display of its PARRO – THE SIGNATURE PARROT COLLECTION, an exclusive line inspired by the grace, vibrancy and symbolism of the parrot. Combining intricate craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibilities, the collection reflects VBJ's enduring commitment to transforming nature into timeless wearable art.

Speaking on the occasion, Amarendran Vummidi, Managing Partner, VBJ, said, "IGNITION has established itself as a platform where influential voices come together to spark conversations that shape perspectives. At VBJ, we believe that meaningful ideas and enduring craftsmanship both have the power to inspire generations. Our continued association with IGNITION reflects our commitment to supporting platforms that celebrate excellence, dialogue and creativity."

Jithendra Vummidi, Managing Partner, VBJ, added, "The PARRO collection embodies our pursuit of artistry that is rooted in heritage yet resonates with contemporary lifestyles. Presenting it at IGNITION, a forum that celebrates ideas, innovation and culture, is a fitting way to showcase how timeless craftsmanship continues to evolve while staying true to its origins."

As a fifth-generation family-run brand, VBJ takes immense pride in its legacy as the creator of the historic Sengol (sceptre) - a sacred symbol of India’s democratic journey. Rediscovered after 72 years through meticulous research by the VBJ team, the Sengol was reinstated beside the Speaker’s chair in India’s new Parliament building, Sansad Bhavan, by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking VBJ’s enduring bond with India’s cultural and national heritage. Continuing this legacy, VBJ is now set to unveil its largest jewellery showroom on Coimbatore’s 100ft Road.

About VBJ, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers

VBJ, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers is one of South India’s most trusted fine jewellery brands, offering exceptional value, diverse choices, and unmatched quality across diamond, gold, and silver jewellery. Established in 1900, VBJ has earned the trust of over five generations and continues to be a name synonymous with heritage and craftsmanship. With two flagship stores in Chennai (Anna Salai and Anna Nagar) and a global presence through its Dallas showroom opened in October 2023, VBJ blends legacy with modernity to serve a wide range of jewellery connoisseurs. VBJ’s digital presence through www.vummidi.com allows patrons to explore elaborate collections online, while its dedicated silverware vertical www.vbjsilver.com, showcases masterful creations crafted from pure silver. The brand also boasts an in-house Creative Center and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, enabling the design and production of timeless, original pieces that reflect both artistic finesse and generational expertise.

About IGNITION:

IGNITION is an exciting, eclectic, monthly live on-stage conversation series that celebrates the power of people; maps fascinating canvases of creativity, courage, and challenge; and provides keys to different worlds.

IGNITION typically has 500-700 people at every edition. It is a by-invitation-only event and draws a wonderful, discerning, intellectually engaged audience — a mix of entrepreneurs, industrialists, corporates, artists, writers, lawyers, doctors, and professionals from every field.

Its canvas ranges from the urgently public to the intimately personal. Over the last year, it brought together a compelling array of speakers: from actors and directors like Jaideep Ahlawat, Manoj Bajpayee, Kalki Koechlin, Rajkumar Rao, Kabir Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati, Shefali Shah, Ekta Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Vikramaditya Motwane, Hansal Mehta, Guneet Monga to musicians like Shubha Mudgal, Shujaat Khan, historians Manu Pillai, Vikram Sampath, William Dalrymple, career diplomats like TCA Raghavan, PS Raghavan, Talmiz Ahmad, Pavan Varma, Pankaj Saran; lawyers Saurabh Kirpal and J Sai Deepak, political leader PTR Thiagarajan, quantum scientist Urbasi Sinha, AI artists KK Raghava, Harshit Agarwal; Geopolitical experts Manoj Kewalramani, Brahma Chellaney, Jayadeva Ranade, former chief justice Madan Lokur, former army chief Gen MM Naravane, illusionist Karan Singh, and many others.

About Shoma Chaudhury

Shoma Chaudhury is founder of Lucid Lines, an intellectual properties company, and an award-winning journalist, editor, and curator. She is the creator of platforms like SYNAPSE and IGNITION.
In 2011, Newsweek in the US picked her as one of 150 power women "who shake the world”. In 2018, she was invited to deliver the Gandhi Oration in Sydney, the first Indian to do so.

She has been awarded the prestigious Ernest Hemingway Award for Political Journalism, the Mumbai Press Club award for political journalism, the Ramnath Goenka award and the Chameli Devi Award for Best Woman Journalist for -- in the words of the citation -- "going where angels fear to tread”.

She has a large body of work in defence of an open, plural, and equitable society. She is also a reputed moderator who has hosted more than 500 conversations on stage, interviewing the most cutting-edge minds globally on politics, policy, economy, business, science, civil society, cinema, literature, sports and media.

Formerly, she was the co-founder and managing editor of Tehelka Magazine. She had also co-founded and was director of THiNK, a paradigm-setting conference of ideas, where she hosted and interviewed people as diverse as Robert De Niro, Tom Friedman, Gary Kasparov, Dr Ian Lipkin, Sherry Turkle, David Christian, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, former chiefs of the Mossad, CIA and Taliban together on the same platform along with a galaxy of politicians, artists, corporate czars, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, farmers, dalits, tribals, and activists from India, Africa, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, China, Russia, Pakistan and Europe and America.