Gujarat diamond merchant, wife who earn Rs 15 crore per year leave wealth to become monks; millionaire family’s story

Years after their son and daughter took a similar life decision, a Gujarat diamond merchant and his wife decided to leave behind their massive wealth to live the life of monks, giving up their life of luxury and massive yearly salary.

Gujarat diamond merchant Dipesh Shah and Pika Shah, based in Surat, decided to give up their wealth and renounce the materialistic world and live the rest of their lives as monks. Five years ago, their 12-year-old son Bhagyaratna Vijayji, then known as Bhavya Shah, also adopted a life of monkhood.

Shah’s son Bhagyaratna had ridden a Ferrari to his diksha ceremony, and his parents Dipesh and Pika ended up driving in a Jaguar for the same purpose. It must be noted that a decade ago, their daughter had also decided to give up the riches for a life of monkhood.

Dipesh Shah is one of the most successful diamond traders in Surat, and his establishment has a yearly turnover of over Rs 15 crore. However, the merchant and his wife have decided to wrap up their business and live a life of monkhood.

After leaving behind their material possessions and luxury lifestyle, the couple decided to live a life of abstinence, walking miles alongside other monks. Dinesh Shah, in preparation for monkhood, has already walked 350 km while Pika covered a distance of 500 km with women monks.

As quoted by The Economic Times, Dipesh Shah said, “When my daughter took diksha, we too wished to follow her path someday. I earned wealth and success, but the search for ultimate peace and happiness never ended.”

The Shah family has a history of being devoted to their spiritual journey as Dipesh’s father Pravin, who had a massive jaggery and sugar business, decided to move to Surat to be closer to the Jain monks in the area.

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