Boy who scored 99 percentile in Class 12th to renounce the world and become a monk

There were no major celebrations when Varshil Shah was found to be among the toppers after the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board results were announced on May 27

By: News Desk |
June 7, 2017 8:48 am

Several career prospects are ready to welcome you with open arms if one makes the cut to the 90 percentile mark. But 17-year-old Varshil Shah is on his way to renounce the world and become a monk after getting a percentile of 99.9 in Class 12. Hailing from a middle-class family in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Varshil will take diksha on June 8. The diksha ceremony which will be held in Gandhinagar will mark his initiation as a Jain monk.

Speaking to The Hindustan Times, Varshil’s uncle said that the result was as expected. However, his uncle said that Varshil thinks that “to attain and maintain peace, renouncing the world is the only way.”

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Son of income-tax official father Jigarbhai and mother Amiben Shah Varshil along with his older sister Jainini have lived a simple life. Even the use of electricity is restricted in their house. The family who believes in the Jain principle of Jivdaya, feels that many aquatic animals are killed to generate power and hence the process is against the Jain vow of ahmisa, or non-violence. Electricity at their house is not used for the use of any television or refrigerator but is only used in times when it is necessary, like when the children are studying at night.

The parents are in fact, happy with the path that their son has chosen to take. He had met a group of Jain monks in 2016 who he credits for having helped him concentrate and score high.

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There were no major celebrations when Varshil was found to be among the toppers after the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board results were announced on May 27.

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