Arts & Cultural Activist

In 1978, Rajiv Arora co-founded the brand Amrapali with a close friend, Rajesh Ajmera. They travelled extensively to interiors of the country visiting different tribes to understand the unique facets of their culture; collecting fascinating artifacts along the way.
Exquisite and distinctive designs have been the specialty of his creations with precious and semi-precious stones adding colour, richness and dazzle to gold and silver forms like never witnessed before. Each piece is specially handcrafted, one-of-a-kind and designed to be treasured and passed on as an heirloom.
Known for his originality in striking a balance between traditional and contemporary jewellery creations and preserving the ancient techniques of jewellery-making and the art of meenakari; Amrapali has risen to success under his steadfast guidance.
He revived the ancient art of handmade jewellery with the help of master craftsmen and goldsmiths in and around Jaipur setting up 3 state-of-the-art manufacturing units that provided employment to over 2000 local craftsmen. He has been attributed with a significant contribution to the country in areas of skill development, employment, preservation of ancient arts and undeniable contribution to the economy of Rajasthan.
Amrapali is the first jewellery company invited by the Fashion Design Council of India to participate in the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week, the country’s biggest and most prestigious lifestyle event. Amrapali has showcased at various fashion boulevards across the globe including London and Manhattan and in Milan for Namaste India 2003. Incidentally, Amrapali is the only Indian Jewellery house to present its collection in Fashion Weeks of Milan, New York & Paris.
Rajiv Arora is also one of the founding members of ‘Chandrika’ foundation now know as (Amrapali Foundation) and has contributed to the promotion of Indian Jewellery by lending his unique and single largest collection of silver ornaments for exhibiting in six different museums and art galleries in United Kingdom.:

Harris Museum&Art Gallery,Preston, Lancashire (Septmber 15 – November 10,2001)

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Warrington, Cheshire (December 1, 2001- February 2, 2002)

Catwright Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Februrary 23 – April 20, 2002)

Oldham Museum & Art gallery, Oldham, Greater Manchester (May 4 – July 6, 2002)

Rotherham Arts Center, Yorkshire (July 20 – September 14, 200)

Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, Lancashire (September 28 – November 23, 2002)

He has generously lended the collection and has passionately preserved the traditions of silver ornaments in India. This is the only largest collection of silver ornaments in India, and as that exemplary both in terms of quality and representation. It offers a rare insight of silver ornaments and jewellery worn by various local/tribal people living in rural India. He will soon be launching the Museum of this collection to showcase the world the beauty of Indian art.

In order to help Jaipur to gain the prestigious place in the most beautiful heritage cities in the World he became the founder member of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation.

He is the Chairperson of Jaipur Citizen Forum, which is charitable trust that promotes heritage, arts, culture, education, technology, sports etc and bring Jaipur citizens on common platform to contribute for their own city. This Forum works with and for artists in Rajasthan a state rich in historic habitations, traditional arts, crafts, and cultural resources. It has pioneered a holistic, culture-based and cross-sector approach to livelihood generation through its various activities, events, advocacy forums and networks, always employing specialist skills and best practices.