Varshil Shah, a 17-year-old from Ahmedabad in Gujarat who scored 99.9 percentile in Class 12 has planned to become a Jain monk. Scoring top marks could not stop the teenager from changing his plans and is ready to leave worldly desires for a peaceful life. While students of his age are waiting to be admitted to top colleges, this boy from a middle-class family has another plan. Varshil Shah will take Diksha on June 8 which is a religious ceremony that begins the initiation of Jain monks. It will be held in Gandhinagar.
When Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board announced their result on May 27, Varshil was among the toppers but that did not call for any celebrations at home. Varshil’s family follows Jainism and did not want to be in the limelight. It was his uncle Jain who spoke to media about his the boy’s decision.
As per Hindustan Times, Nayanbhai Suthari quoted Varshil as saying, “The result is as per expectations, but to attain and maintain peace, I think renouncing the world is the only way.” His both parents are happy with the path their son has chosen. The couple raised their children by following the Jain principles of Jivdaya which mean compassion for living beings. The family does not even use electricity as they believe that many water animals are killed during power generation. They follow the Jain rules or ahimsa or non-violence and do not use television or refrigerator at home. They use electricity only when children have to study in the night.
Before his school began in 2016 he met some Jain monks who helped him concentrate and get high scores in exams. Nayanbhai Suthari said, “He came in contact with Surat-based Munni Shri Kalyan Ratna Vijayji three years ago. He was only waiting to complete his school (before taking Diksha).”
Source : India.com
