An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide: Local Jain Refuses To Print Himsa Material

Mr. Suketu Kapadia is an unassuming, gentle, honest man, and a practicing shravak in Houston, Texas. Along with his family, he runs a good-size printing business in Houston. They all are always mindful about the practice of ahimsa, not only at home but also in their business. He is often faced with big printing orders where he is required to print books, magazines, and advertising materials that promote himsa and himsak products such as leather, non-vegetarian food restaurants, guns, philosophies and stories of himsa, hatred, and warfare.

From the very beginning, Suketu Kapadia decided that he would not accept such contracts and business and even today he refuses to knowingly print such materials. I talk to Suketu- bhai quite often and every day he becomes more convinced of his stand, even in times when business and general economic conditions may not be that good. Thank you, Suketu-bhai for this restraint and care in your business. I wish there were many more Suketus around me.