This story is about Sanket Parekh, an IIT graduate, who was working as a chemical engineer in the United States but left the high-paying job to become a monk.
If you ask any Class 12 graduate with a math background about their plans, they will say they want to crack the IIT JEE examination and join an IIT. IITs are among the most prestigious institutes in India, with lakhs of aspirants appearing for the JEE exam each year to secure admission. Why are IITs in such high demand? Because students often secure excellent campus placements, both in India and abroad. Aspirants put in tireless effort, studying day and night to clear the JEE exam. Their hard work pays off when they land lucrative placements.
But what if we told you about someone who cracked the JEE, gained admission to IIT Bombay, secured a job in the U.S., and then left it all behind to become a monk.
This story is about Sanket Parekh, an IIT graduate, who was working as a chemical engineer in the United States but left a high-paying job to become a monk. Sanket’s mother and his friends were stunned by his decision when he told them about quitting the job after achieving everything at the age of 29.
Parekh was an atheist but decided to quit a job and attain ‘Diksha’.
Sanket Parekh was introduced to Jainism by his senior at IIT Bombay, Bhavik Shah, who had taken ‘Diksha’ in 2013. During an online chat, their discussion shifted to philosophical topics, sparking Sanket’s interest in the concepts of the soul, mind, and body.
Inspired by this, Sanket left his luxurious lifestyle and started exploring Jainism, according to a media report. He devoted two and a half years under the guidance of Acharya Yugbhushansurji, learning the rituals and fundamental principles of the faith.
“I was an atheist, I would have got everything if I had decided to have a career, but my inner self would never have been at peace like it is today,” ” the Times of India quoted Parekh as saying.
The monk didn’t reveal his salary package but as per TOI, he was paying Rs 12 lakh/year as income tax.
Sanket Parekh lost his father a few years ago. He shared that it took considerable effort to convince his mother about his decision to change his lifestyle. However, when he explained that this path was the only one that would truly bring him happiness, she eventually accepted his choice.
