3 generations of women from wealthy family decide to become monks in search for happiness & peace

AHMEDABAD: They belong to a family managing affairs of a major diamond firm in Hong Kong and have seen the riches up close – but they got attracted to the aura of asceticism and have decided to lead the rest of their lives as Jain sadhvis. What’s more, in a rare occurrence, the women intending to don whites include a daughter, mother and grandmother!

Hong Kong residents Parishi Shah (23), mother Hetal Mehta (49) and grandmother Induben Shah (73) who lives in Mumbai are all set to take diksha under the guidance of Sadhvi Hitdarshitashreeji from Ramchandra Samudaya in May. Preparations for the ceremony have begun by the family that hails from Deesa and Dhanera in Banaskantha district of north Gujarat.

Talking to TOI, Parishi said that she has got her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hong Kong. She completed her schooling in Hong Kong, where her father Bharat Mehta represents diamond firm KP Sanghvi & Sons. Her brother Jainam is studying data science in the US.


“Whenever I would go to India, my mother would take me to Derasar and make me listen to sermons. I would get furious – instead of going to restaurants or movies, we were visiting the sadhvis,” she said. “But as I started spending time with the sadhvis, something stirred inside me. I realised that one has to find true happiness and peace with self. I decided to become a monk myself.”

Septuagenarian Induben came on board when she got to know about Parishi's decision. Having lost her husband several years ago, she was already inclined towards spirituality. “It was thus a pleasant surprise that all of us would take the step together. I have already started walking five kilometres a day to prepare for the life after diksha,” she said.

A rare event for the Jain community
Parishi and Induben’s decision inspired Hetalben to fast-track her decision to dedicate her life to the quest of spirituality. “Earlier I had decided to take the path of the sadhus and sadhvis after the marriage of my son and daughter. But when I got to know the decision of my mother and daughter, there was no point waiting further,” said Hetalben.

The three generations decided to take Diksha some five months back and have got overwhelming support from their family.

The family, currently in India, would go to Hong Kong for a couple of months and would come back before the diksha day of May 22.

Hetalben says she had dedicated her life to raising her family and wanted to retire from the worldly life after marrying off her children. “I am glad that I would be doing something for parmarth (other’s good) rather than swarth (own’s good),” she said.

Girish Shah, president of Samast Jain Mahajan in Mumbai, said that it’s truly a rare occurrence, not only for the family, but for the Jain community at large. “Often thedaughtersfollowin thefootsteps of mothers, but it is rare for a daughter, mother and grandmother, all three generations to together be part of the Sadhvi Samudaya. It is a matter of pride for us,” he said.