Ahmedabad: Varshil Shah, a 17-year-old, who scored 99.9 percent in Class 12, has decided to renounce the world to become a Jain Monk.

A resident of Ahmedabad in Gujarat will take diksha today at a ceremony to be held in Gandhinagar.

Varshil, whose family follows Jainism, shuns limelight and keeps to himself. His mother Amiben Shah and father Jigarbhai, an Income-Tax Official, are said to be happy with the decision taken by their son.

The couple raised their two children, Varshil and his older sister Jainini, in complete simplicity. The family closely follows the Jain principle of Jivdaya, or compassion for all living beings.

The use of electricity is restricted in the Shah household. The family believes many aquatic animals are killed in the process of power generation, which is also against the Jain vow of ahmisa, or non-violence.

The Shahs don’t keep a television or a refrigerator at home. Electricity is used only when it is necessary, during the night especially when the children are studying.