Meet man, retired tax officer and Muslim scholar, who is a guru to Jain monks and nuns, his name is…, he is from…
In a unique and heartwarming example of faith and learning coming together, Dr. Intaj Malek, a retired tax officer and Muslim scholar, has been guiding Jain monks and nuns in their PhD studies. At 63, Dr. Malek’s story is all about breaking boundaries and bringing people closer through the power of knowledge. Dr. Malek earned his PhD back in 2003, focusing on Upanishads and Islamic Mysticism. Soon after, he joined Gujarat University as a research guide. That’s when something truly special happened, Jain monks from the Sthanakvasi Jain Ajramar Sampraday approached him to guide them in their doctoral work.
These monks follow strict religious rules: they always wear cloth masks over their mouths and move constantly from one place to another, never settling in one spot. Although they hadn’t passed their Class 12 exams, they held degrees from Jain Vishva Bharati University in Rajasthan. Dr. Malek helped them overcome the educational gap and get registered for their PhDs at Gujarat University, a TOI report said.
Usually, students go to their professors. But with these monks always on the move, the roles were reversed, Dr. Malek would travel to wherever they were: be it Kutch, Mumbai, or Delhi. Every few weeks, he’d visit them, carrying books and his laptop to help them with their research. With his support, the monks completed their PhD theses.
According to a report in TOI, over the years, he’s also guided several other students from different backgrounds. He even helped an American scholar, Emilia Bachrach, with her fieldwork in Gujarat for her thesis on spiritual biographies in the Vallabh sect.
Right now, three Jain nuns — Krutagya Mahasatiji, Jash Kumari Mahasatiji, and Padmashreeji Mahasatiji — are among Dr. Intaj Malek’s students working on their PhDs at LJ University in Ahmedabad. They’re doing deep research on topics like how dreams are interpreted in Jain scriptures, the spiritual practice of samadhimaran (peaceful death), and the idea of duty in Jain philosophy, especially in the text Kartavya Kaumudi.
But guiding these students hasn’t just been about teaching — it has also changed Dr. Malek personally. Spending time with Jain monks and nuns, and studying their beliefs closely, has deeply influenced his own life.
“I wasn’t very fond of non-vegetarian food to begin with,” he says, “but once I started working closely with Jain students, I decided to give it up completely,” he was quoted as saying by TOI. He was especially moved by their commitment to non-violence, walking barefoot, and following a strict diet. Their simple way of living left a lasting impact on him.
Dr. Malek has studied ancient texts in languages like Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Pali. This has helped him understand the depth of Jain teachings, especially the philosophy of non-violence, something that has not only enriched his academic work, but also reshaped his views on faith and life.
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