She had the extraordinary ability to balance her role as the head of a large business empire while passionately pursuing her spiritual goals. She often discussed with me her desire to unite all spiritual leaders.
Indu Ma was a frequent visitor to the Art of Living Ashram in Bangalore, often staying for long periods. She enthusiastically partook in our breathing and meditation programs, and other activities in the Ashram. She would attend all our meetings, both knowledge sessions and administrative ones too, often recommending many of our practices and ways of functioning, as success models to be followed, to leaders of other oraganisations.
Whenever I was visiting Delhi, she would insist on my staying at her home and get quite cross if another devotee got me to stay with them! Wherever I was and if she happened to be in the same city, she would arrive in the morning and stay until the evening. In our long association, our conversations never veered to the material but rather only to matters pertaining to life here and beyond.
She played a key role as a founding member of the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), a sister foundation of the Art of Living, which was set up in 1997.
As an advanced spiritual seeker, she tested many waters, exploring a variety of techniques and paths with a passion, including Vipassana. Eventually, she felt she had found her path in Art of Living and Vedantic wisdom. From 2006 onwards she became a regular visitor to our Bangalore Ashram, spending large chunks of time there. During one such visit that year, she said to me “Gurudev, har ghat ka paani pi liya, ab hum yahin rehenge”. And for the next many years she stayed most of the time at the ashram. It was during this period, I observed that her many questions had abated and were replaced by a deepening silence and abiding contentment.
A sincere seeker, a media baron and a promotor of art and culture, Indu Jain will be remembered for her outstanding contribution to spirituality and humanism. She was detached, yet loving and kind. After spirituality, her other passion was food. She had extensive knowledge of it and was very particular about the timings and kinds of food she ate.
Her enthusiasm for life defied her age. She will remain a role model for women aspiring to be leaders in a man’s world; and be an inspiration for young and old alike on how to cultivate and maintain their enthusiasm, passion for knowledge and youthfulness. She leaves behind a legacy of a life steeped in spirituality while balancing the life of a homemaker and businesswoman.
She wished for her last rites to be performed by one of our ashramites and that is how it will happen.
