Mid-day

Mumbai, Feb 10: Jain diamond merchant Rasiklal Gadhecha (48) has decided to renounce his fortune and live the life of a sanyasin with his wife Jyotsana (43) and daughter Sheetal (22) on February 19.

Rasiklal’s decision has left many of his friends and colleagues bewildered.

But Rasiklal, whose fortune runs into several crores (the exact figure in not known), and includes a posh flat in Malad, says he has realised money won’t win him immortality.

He will give half his wealth to charities and distribute the rest among his relatives.

Gadhecha is a household name in the diamond market, and the family has an office at Opera House and one in Antwerp, Belgium.

Inspiration

A Shvetambar Jain originally from Palanpur, Gujarat, Rasiklal says his inspiration to sever all ties with the material world is his son Chirag (20), who renounced his possessions to become a sanyasi in 2002. He is now known as Munni Chandrayasvijay.

Rasiklal told Mid Day that he used to meet his son’s mentor, Srimad Vijay Jagcchandrasuriswarji Maharajsaaheb, regularly. “His beliefs  changed the way I look at life. My family and I have been in touch with him ever since,” he said.

Ceremony

When asked why his wife and daughter were joining him, he said, “Sheetal had decided to renounce her worldly possessions along with Chirag in 2002. However, we had stopped her from doing so. And when I decided to take diksha, my wife said she would do so as well.” The renouncing ceremony will take place in a derasar in Bhabhartirth, Gujarat.

Fortune

The crores that Gadhecha has amassed over the years will be in good hands, said his cousin Dinesh (35).

“He has sold all his property. Half of the money he got will be donated to charities, and the rest will be distributed among relatives.” Dinesh added that he was proud of his brother’s family. “Even his elder son Vikram wanted to take diksha, but died two years ago,” he said. 

The family will take diksha under Srimad Vijay, which means Rasiklal and Chirag will be brothers (gurubhai) under him, according to Jain tradition.