YJA Convention 2000 07 LA Fourth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 75

speaker information
Note: Unless otherwise indicated by context, words in double quotation marks (" ") are direct words from the speaker. At the time of press, no information was available for speaker Gabriel Figueroa.
AMEET SHAH spent most of his life growing up in Lexington, a small southern town nestled in central North Carolina. He recently graduated from Duke University with degrees in Economics and Political Science. He will be joining JP Morgan in New York as an analyst in their investment banking division. Ameet has been extensively involved in the Jain community as a member of the YJA executive board and active member of both the Charlotte and Raleigh Jain communities.
AMI SHETH has just completed her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Southern California. A Los Angeles based writer, currently she is working on a collection of short stories as well as finishing a screenplay. She will start teaching high school English this fall. Her interests include writing, reading, music and travel.
ASHIK ARUNKANT SHAH: Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Ashik Shah was educated at Cambridge, England in Economics and Politics. He lives in the UK and is involved in the investment field. Between graduating from Cambridge and his current work in the UK, Ashik worked in New York City for Smith Barney Investment Advisors and operated an investment company in India that was listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange.
Ashik served on the founding YJA executive board of 1993-95. Currently, he is actively involved with Young Jains in London, as well as with the celebrations to mark the centenary of Shrimad Rajachandra's departure from the world. He is heavily involved with an international sacred literature trust working on a project of translating Rajachandra's composition Atma Siddhi on behalf of the England-based Institute of Jainology.
DR. ATUL KESHAVJI SHAH was born in Kenya and educated at the London School of Economics. He was the founder of Young Jains UK and Executive Editor of Jain Spirit magazine. He presently lives and works in Colchester, UK. Atul introduces himself thus:
"Hi, I am a unique immortal soul, just like you. I was born in Mombasa, Kenya in the year when the first Jain temple outside India was inaugurated in a large complex in the centre of the town (1961). My childhood was centred around this temple and the community school, and I had lots of fun playing tag around the images of Lord Mahavira. I guess this is where I struck a friendship with Mahavira, and my father, Mr. Keshavji Rupshi Shah, a community leader and pioneer, taught me the Jain values of service and humility.