Pujya Tai Ma: A Legacy of Love, Service and Inspiration in Kenya

– by Bharatbhai Doshi, President, Veerayatan Kenya

For all of us in Kenya, Tai Ma was far more than a spiritual leader. She was a source of inspiration, love, vision, and hope. Her influence transformed not only individuals, but the entire Jain community and countless lives beyond it.

Through her inspiration, Jain education in English began in Kenya with the opening of Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth. Over the years, more than 10,000 children and adults have participated in these classes, helping to strengthen and preserve Jain values for future generations. More than sixty teachers were trained under the guidance of Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji, many of whom have become pillars of Jainism in Kenya today.

The historic Veerayatan International Conference held in Kenya in 2005 remains one of the most memorable events in our community's history and continues to inspire us even today.

Tai Ma's message of Seva, Shiksha and Sadhana found expression in numerous humanitarian projects across Kenya. For over sixteen years, more than 125 children with cerebral palsy have received care and support. More than 370 borewells have brought water to some of the driest regions of the country. Every day, for over twenty-five years, nearly 2,000 people have been provided with meals. Schools and classrooms have been built and renovated, and more than 200 students have received scholarships to complete their education.

What touched us most, however, was not only what Tai Ma accomplished, but who she was. Her simplicity, her unconditional love for everyone, her unwavering commitment to service, education and spiritual practice, and her extraordinary ability to make every person feel valued and loved left an indelible impression on all who met her.

Personally, I can say without hesitation that I am what I am because of Tai Ma's inspiration. My family is what it is because of Tai Ma. The experiences of Nikit and Sneha, like those of so many others, have been profoundly shaped by her affection and guidance.

Tai Ma cannot be replaced, but each one of us can strive to emulate her life and live by the principles she taught. Let us learn from her how to be compassionate, positive, loving, and forward-looking. Let us commit ourselves to carrying forward her mission and becoming, in our own small ways, a reflection of the values she embodied.

In Memory of Tai Ma

You can shed tears because Tai Ma is gone,
Or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that Tai Ma has left behind.
Your heart can be empty because you cannot see her,
Or it can be full of the love that Acharyaji shared with you.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live in yesterday,
Or you can rejoice in tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember Tai Ma and only that she is gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry, close your mind and turn away,
Or you can do what Tai Ma would want: smile, open your eyes, love, and carry on.