Shri Tilokchand Dulchand Shah (Chhajed) was born into a modest family in 1932 and was brought up in Nenava, a small village in the Banaskantha District of Gujarat. Without a strong educational background, in 1950, he moved to Mumbai with his father Dhulchadji in the pursuit of starting his own business. Despite all of the struggles and obstacles he had to overcome, it was his dedication and willing support of his wife Samarathben, that allowed them to successfully establish themselves in the Copper Market in Mumbai. After the success of his business, he decided it was time to give back to the communities that raised him and supported him.
He gave many members of his Jain community and his village an opportunity to move to the city by teaching them the nuts and bolts of creating their own businesses.
In honor of his mother who passed away at a young age, he built a hospital in his village in the 1970s. He made sure that the hospital was up to par as the ones in the city, allowing members of his village and numerous surrounding villages the opportunity to receive incredible medical care that they otherwise would have to forego. He didn’t just stop here, following are highlights of how far his compassion stretched:
1) He built a dedicated wing in the hospital in Dhanera (Banaskantha) to service underprivileged pregnant women
2) He built a public Dharamshala in Sanchore (Jalore District) for the underprivileged
3) Donated 24 Bigha for a Gaushala in Sanchore
4) Named the Dhudalal Becharji Bhavan Dharamshala (his father’s name) in Shankheshwar with blessings from Shri Vijay Ram Suriswarji Maharaj Saheb (Dehlawala) and Shri Abhaychandra Vijayji Maharaj Saheb (Dehlawala)
5) Numerous donations to various Temples and Dharamshalas across Gujrat and Rajasthan
Before his passing, he donated his land in order to build the Shri Tilok Darshan Jain Dharamshala in Palitana.
As, their son Vijay and daughter-in-law Prianka, it is our honor to continue this legacy built by our father and mother. As his, grandchildren Kimi and Amy, it is our honor to continue this legacy built by our grandfather and grandmother.
