JAINA Convention 2017 07 Edison NJ

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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JAINA CONVENTION 2017
Guru Divo Guru Devta Guru Vin Ghor Andharje Guruvani Vegda Te Talvalia Sansar
Muni Padmaharsh Vijayji M.s.
Today I got an opportunity to share my journey from ANUJ (My Sansari Name) to MUNI PADMAHARSH VIJAYJI for "JAINA PUBLICATION"
I was born as ANUJ to my loving father Mr. ASHOK SHAH and caring mother Mrs. REKHA SHAH on 18th May 1985. My upbringing was done by my parents and other family members in very loving, caring and well cultured environment. As the days passed, my parents started nourishing me with good family values and culture. Simultaneously they also planted seeds of religious values in my life. At that time, they never knew that the seeds they are sowing in me will one day grow in such a big plant and I will choose to walk on the path shown by BHAGWAN MAHAVIR...
I did my schooling from MODERN SCHOOL in SOUTH MUMBAI, in GUJARATI MEDIUM. I was very bright student and got first or second grade throughout my entire schooling. My nature during those days was that of a shy and introvert person, and that remained same until I came to USA .Being a youngest member of the family, I was pampered a lot, and all my demands were fulfilled in no time. After passing 10th Grade, I joined father conceicao rodrigues college of engineering in BANDRA, MUMBAI for pursuing PRODUCTION ENGINEERING. I decided to pursue my Masters in Industrial Engineering from NYU Polytechnic University.
Staying away from family helped me to improve my decision making ability, as there was no one else to take decisions for me whether good or bad. Another thing I was missing there was to go to DERASAR. There was no Jain derasar in Borough of Brooklyn where I was living. It was not possible for me to go to derasar everyday as it was 10 miles away from my home and taking at least 1.5 hours in subway one way journey. So I decided to visit derasar every weekend mandatorily and whenever time permitted during weekdays. I understood the true value of religion in those days. My studies started in university and I started working hard to achieve good grades. I maintained 4.0 GPA throughout my graduation successfully.
By doing all this activities superficially, I was missing something in deep heart, and that was my Derasar, my Bhagwan, and my Religion. After my graduation I got a job in SIEMENS INDUSTRIES INC. as a Quality Engineer in New York. So I decided to move near Jain Derasar in Queens Borough. As soon as I moved there, I came in contact with Jain community and I started taking part in Derasar activities. I became right hand of Mrs. Kalpana Gandhi (The President of Jain Centre of America's at that time). She started sharing her religious responsibility with me and Alpaben. We also helped her in successfully executing all religious and cultural events. After seeing my deep involvement, she suggested my name as religious coordinator in JCA and that was an achievement for me. I also became pathshala teacher and successfully handled pathshala for 2 consecutive years till I moved back to India. We together organised cultural events for mahavir janma kalyanakand also wrote and directed skits. By running a pathshala, I also started enhancing my religious knowledge and went in depth of it. Along with leading a religious life, I also enjoyed my social life in NYC to the fullest like going night out with friends and parties. By indulging in all
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