Yadagiri: In a striking life transformation, Dilip Kumar Dokha, a wealthy businessman from Saidapur town in Karnataka’s Yadgir district, has renounced his family and assets reportedly worth ₹100 crore to embrace Jain monastic life.
This comes shortly after the story of 26-year-old Nikitha from Yadgir — born into a wealthy Jain family — who gave up luxury to become a Jain nun, making headlines earlier this year.
Dilip Kumar, aged 55, was previously based in the United States for 12 years where he was involved in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business. He also owns multiple properties in Bengaluru. Married and father to three daughters, Dilip Kumar reportedly ensured the marriages of his children before deciding to take diksha (initiation) into Jain monkhood, leaving behind his wife and the material comforts of life.
Interestingly, Dilip Kumar had first expressed his desire to become a Jain monk at the age of 14. At the time, his parents had dissuaded him. Now, 41 years later, he has finally fulfilled that long-standing spiritual aspiration.
His final farewell was marked by a grand procession through the streets of Saidapur, as relatives and well-wishers accompanied him in a ceremonial send-off. Riding in a chariot, he was bid goodbye by friends, family, and the local Jain community.
Jain monks live an extremely disciplined and austere life — walking barefoot from town to town, wearing only white robes, shaving their heads, and depending entirely on alms for food. Dilip Kumar has willingly chosen this path, even as his wife reportedly broke down in tears. "He left me alone, despite my pleas," she told local media.
His journey reflects the deep spiritual convictions and sacrifices that continue to define Jain monastic traditions, even in today’s materialistic world.