[00:00:00 – 00:00:08] Nitin Bajaj

Everyone. Welcome to the industry show. I’m your host, Nitin Bajaj. And joining me today is Atul Shah. Atul, welcome on the show.

[00:00:08 – 00:00:10] Atul Shah

Thank you. Thank you.

[00:00:10 – 00:00:13] Nitin Bajaj

It’s great to have you here. Let’s start with who is Atul.

[00:00:15 – 00:02:41] Atul Shah

Alright. So let me start with let me share a bit about my journey from my roots in Gujarat to where I’m today. I was born in small village of Kasor, Gujarat, which in which is nearby the Anand Baroda. My parents were really believing it to provide us with a strong education. My father’s friend actually inspired me to come to The USA. I pursue master degree in computer science and worked for AT and T for thirty four years and have made various other investment along the way while I was working for AT and T. I’m really proud of to be a father of two children. One is an orthopedic doctor, and the other is a founder of India company startup that has earned recognition as one of the top 100 startup in The USA. My wife, Durami, also comes from a very small village. She has been instrumental in laying a strong educational foundation for our children, and she’s doing lots of community services. The past leader of Jane Society of Chicago inspired me to get involved in community service. I had the privilege of serving the Jane community for eighteen years, in Chicago. During this time, I focus more on the unity, transparency, youth, and women involvement. This helped actually paying off $12,000,000 bank that work in society of Chicago. The success of our local Jane Center naturally led me to become more involved with JAINA. So Jena’s past leaders has invited me, and I’m honored right now to serve as the first vice president, vice president of Jena, and as the convener for the two thousand twenty five Jena Convention, which will be held in Chicago from July ‘6. The theme for this convention is unity in diversity, a path to peace. Looking back, I’m truly humble by how far I have come from my modest beginning in a small village. This journey has shaped by the support and cooperation of countless Jain gurus, past leaders in JAINA, past leader leaders in United States, Jain Society Of Chicago, and the JAINA for which I’m deeply grateful to them. Thank you.

[00:02:42 – 00:03:12] Nitin Bajaj

Well, thank you for sharing your journey. It’s truly has been amazing. And even more that, you know, you’ve taken your time and what you can do. And instead, you’re helping the community, both you and, your wife. So tell us a little bit about, Jenna. What is the mission? What is the vision? And also the size and scale of, what you’re going to convene here in July.

[00:03:13 – 00:04:43] Atul Shah

So JAINA actually has played a very good role as a living being organization in North America. He’s united by the four Jain principles with one Jain concept. Back in India, you can see that Jains are divided into too many different sects. Right? Here, in since 1981, JAINA has found which has a one JAINA concept. It was initially formed with some local JAINA centers across the North America. But currently, we have 75 Jane center have joined the JAINA. JAINA is grateful to the dedication and vision of this past leader who devoted their life to establishing the organization, making it making it successful, and shaping it into the what it is today. JAINA is deeply involved in humanitarian services, animal welfare, and environmental initiative, community outreach, education, empowering both youth and women. Since 1981, JAINA has been organizing annual gathering for both adults and youth to create a stronger community and tradition. We are actually expecting 5,000 jams from the North America and from the around world coming to this convention. We already have right now 4,700, you know, production done for coming to this convention.

[00:04:44 – 00:05:24] Nitin Bajaj

It’s just amazing and fascinating. I’ve attended, a few agenda conventions in the past, and the energy is so amazing. And what I love the most about, agenda conventions is the food. It’s just absolutely fascinating. But, you know, jokes aside, I think it’s a really important platform that the past and current JAINA leaders have put together. Now I would love to hear from you as you’re organizing and collaborating with, so many different mini organizations within the bigger umbrella. What’s the one main challenge you’re facing?

[00:05:27 – 00:06:45] Atul Shah

Well, basically, what there are more challenges rather than the only one I can say. Right? You as you’ve seen that I said that, you know, in in India that lot of know, Jains are divided into different thing. Right? So my biggest challenge are actually unity among the Jains. Right? We want one of the main challenge. Right? We we want to ensure unity and cooperation from the different Jain group, which can create a breakup of the of this one Jain concept of JAINA. Right? That is the first cons you know, challenge I see that. Second challenge I see that, you know, we have to maintain our financial health and growth of the JAINA. Also, we need to focus more in our local JAINA’s faith toward the JAINA and JAINA’s face toward the JAINA centers. Right? And, also, we want to expand our JAINA community outreach. We also have to actually expand adapt, you know, the changing in times. Right? Digital shipment, environmental concern, and global political seats. Right? So these are all can affect, you know, and these are our challenges. I’m thinking about it. But you know what? It can be done, you know, with our this is a good thing to learn, and then it can present good opportunity for growth and leadership among us.

[00:06:45 – 00:06:54] Nitin Bajaj

True. Now on the flip side of challenges come opportunities, and I’m sure you have many in front of you. What’s the one that you’re most excited about?

[00:06:56 – 00:07:52] Atul Shah

Oh, mainly the unity. That is I’m excited about. I like to do unity. I am very good onto creating a unity among the Jains. So this is the one, you know, I like about it. But the exciting opportunity other I’m targeting for. Right? The priority, I would like to prioritize the development of gene centers across the North America. There are more there are more gene centers who does not have their gene centers. Right? You know, they do not have space for their own. Mhmm. I like to, you know, help them out. I like to prioritize the development of them. Second, I like to have well-being and growth of the community by humanitarian efforts, education, and health care related projects. Third, I like to collaborate with other organization. There are other organ organization called Jito. Right? Then the Jane alert. There are other, you know, organization who like to collaborate with us. We want to work with each other and create a growth and success for Jainism.

[00:07:53 – 00:08:25] Nitin Bajaj

I love that. You know, there’s a lot of strength in unity. There’s a lot of opportunity that is around, and why not capitalize on that? Now as we look forward, I would love for you to reflect on your professional and personal life and share with us two moments. One, where things did not work out as you had expected and, there were lessons that came out of that experience. And another one where things exceeded your expectations and there was success beyond what you had imagined.

[00:08:26 – 00:09:29] Atul Shah

So first to that, financially, personally, I can think of that I have faced failure three times in my life. Mhmm. But that gave me valuable lessons that ultimately helped me reach a place of stability and comfort at this point. This experience shaped my journey, and that’s why I was able to retire at the age of 60. And I like to give this my good time to, you know, our community for our Jainism, our, you know, community outreach, And that’s where the failure helped me out this lesson learned. The success story, as I said before, when I started serving in Jane Center of Chicago, focusing on unity, transparency, involvement of youth and women. These were lagging really in in our society, you know, and and currently also in other society.

I was able to create a faith and trust for the community, and we were able to pay off bank debt and able to create a financial stability right for the Jinx society, Chicago. That that is I’m really proud of.

[00:09:29 – 00:10:03] Nitin Bajaj

Yeah. That is huge. That is amazing. So congratulations to you and the team for that continued success. Now I would love to, you know, learn more about what do you do when, let’s say, you’re not running these, meetings or bringing people together. What is your way of distressing, disconnecting, and, just, you know I mean, you enjoy what you do, obviously, and this is your passion. But are there other avenues where, you like to go and destress?

[00:10:04 – 00:10:58] Atul Shah

Yes. So, generally, I have divided my day into different different slots. And I then I assign depends on the priority. But other than that, what I do, you know, I I spend my time with my grandchildren. Even though right now I’m busy in for the convention preparation, but during the daytime, I spend my time with grandchildren. I’m also focusing on the investment, our state, and the stock market. I’m also supporting the local Jameson.

Currently, also, I’m supporting the local Jameson’s, you know, with them. Also, in the JAINA community, I’m, you know, supporting. Also, I’m traveling. Since 02/2001, I may have traveled more than hundred places out of country or in country. So I like to travel a lot, you know, with my wife. So this is another thing I do in parallel of, you know, the community services.

[00:10:59 – 00:11:36] Nitin Bajaj

This is amazing. You know, this is I like to say retirement is just a word that you are you’re living proof that retirement just means you now get to do what you want to do instead of needing to stick to a schedule because you have to make some money. So you’re a role model for people that are, aspiring to live an active and healthy life beyond a daily profession that, most of us get to define and and that intent, turn tends to define us. So, again, congratulations for being that leader and role model.

[00:11:37 – 00:11:56] Atul Shah

See, making money is main also another thing that I can make money. I can make which I can donate. Right? And if if I’m in this position, when I start my donation first, then other actually, you know, get inspired that, okay. No. We should do that. So that that helps us a lot.

[00:11:56 – 00:12:04] Nitin Bajaj

So true. Now I would love to see if you have any recommendations for either a book or a podcast that you really like.

[00:12:05 – 00:13:08] Atul Shah

Well, I don’t spend much time on reading the books. I’m not good in the reading, you know, not even in stock. Right? But thing is I do listen when we go for a walk. We go for a walk actually 2.7 miles a day, and sometimes two times a day, we’d go there. Then I do listen to the lectures on how to live a better life. Right? Particularly focusing on speech.

You know, when you talk to someone, how do you speak? How do you do if you you want to make sure you don’t want to hurt someone. Right? You have to be your behavior, also your conduct. Right? So these are the three important thing that I always like to listen lectures on that. Right? And there are lots of videos available on the YouTube. You know?

People can create their good impression, good thing, and not to hurt anyone Atul, like, in in in Hindi like like, man. Right? So this is like speech behavior and conduct. So that’s where you need to to learn a lot about and listen to those lectures.

[00:13:09 – 00:13:36] Nitin Bajaj

Extremely important life skill. I 100% agree. It’s about communication is all about how you’re making the other person feel. And if you can control that and and become really good at that, so many things can come to fruition. So thank you for sharing that. Now onto my favorite part of the show, which we call the one line life lessons. I would love for you to share your life lessons with us.

[00:13:36 – 00:14:48] Atul Shah

What I have, you know, done in my life. Right? Whenever I had a failure, which helped me good successful by learning the lesson. Right? That’s one lesson. Second, I always I always treat treated the groups or the community at the day in center or even China with very kindness, whom that had actually played a significant role in my success. In life, there were so many times I had to stick with the true value of the genuine view of the life. Right? And it was really challenging, but that gave me a right path.

And another one is I had so many ups and down in life, both socially, financially, but these experiences created good good personal growth and saved my journey. Regardless of anything, I have always expressed gratitude to everyone during my journey to Jane Center and JAINA. So this is when you express the gratitude to anyone, people feel very good about you know? And that’s what you always should do.

Always and that’s why we always do thank you to people. Right? That’s what you wanna do all the time.

[00:14:49 – 00:15:07] Nitin Bajaj

This is fascinating. Atulji, thank you so much for sharing your journey, your story, and your life lessons with us. We really appreciate it, and thank you for your continued service to the community at large and inspiring the next generation and the youth to do their part.

[00:15:08 – 00:15:57] Atul Shah

One thing I wanted to say that I’m retired. I have a great amount of time where I can serve the society and community in many ways. I hope to be remembered not by title or accomplishment, but as a human being to make positive impact on others’ life. Also, in this convention, we are inviting three keynote speaker. One, guru, which is Nayan Vatsalji from the BAPS. Second, CEO of the Force Motor in India, doctor Abhay Firodia. And third, we are inviting Jessica from in this country.

And so we have three keynote speaker on different track, and we like everyone to live and listen. Please make sure you join the convention. There are not there are there is not too many spot left.

[00:15:57 – 00:15:58] Nitin Bajaj

Mhmm.

[00:15:58 – 00:16:01] Atul Shah

And that’s what we are looking from everyone. Thank you.