Today we’d like to introduce you to Arham Doshi
Hi Arham, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At 12 years old, I was tired, frustrated, and questioning why my father dragged me out of bed at 4 a.m. for this pilgrimage. Halfway up, exhaustion turned to anger. “Why can’t we just pray like normal people?” I vented.
Comically on cue, an older Jain monk, climbing with the effortless grace of someone half his age, overheard my frustration and stopped. With a calm smile, he asked, “Why do you climb this mountain?” At least, that’s what he asked me in Gujarati—a language I didn’t speak. My father translated his simple question, which pierced my frustration and made me pause.
Over the next few minutes, the monk explained that Jainism is not just a religion—it’s a way of life, a philosophy of non-attachment, non-violence, and inner peace. I’d grown up with this religion, but it felt distant—almost abstract. Now, reaching the summit, seeing the pristine, white temple veiled in mist as monks recited ancient Sanskrit and Prakrit verses, the sound of the chanting was mesmerizing; however, the wisdom in those verses was inaccessible to me, an American-born Jain with limited knowledge of my ancestral languages.
This moment was a turning point. I realized that understanding Jainism required more than casual engagement. It demanded a deep dive into its philosophy, languages, and teachings. My identity, once rooted in the English-speaking world, suddenly felt incomplete without a deeper connection to Jainism and my heritage.
Back in the U.S., I immersed myself in learning Gujarati and Hindi. These efforts, though helpful, were useful only to me. As a STEM and computer science-focused kid, I wondered if I could help others bridge this gap by leveraging technology. This realization led me to computational linguistics, where language and technology intersect.
As artificial intelligence began to dominate global conversations in recent years, I saw additional opportunities to apply my knowledge. I embarked on an independent research project alongside Jay Shenoy, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Ph.D. candidate, titled “Loss in AI Translation,” exploring the limitations of AI in translating the cultural and spiritual nuances of Jain scriptures. I tested Long Short-Term Memory (LTSM) and Seq2Seq models on Hindi texts, only to discover that these technologies struggled to interpret the metaphors and cultural references essential to Jain philosophy. This discovery underscored the necessity of human involvement in preserving the integrity of these teachings and diversifying linguistic inputs in technology.
To deepen my impact, I founded Jain Enlightened (https://www.jainenlightened.org/), a nonprofit organization that aims to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern technology while teaching others about Jainism. We use AI to provide e-learning modules and a chatbot trained on countless Jain scriptures in four languages: English, Gujarati, Hindi, and Spanish. The platform, also available as an iOS and Android app, includes over 80 self-produced lessons, including podcasts from Jain scholars and monks, and has reached thousands of users worldwide.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of this journey has been teaching and publishing a book for children at the Jain Society of North Texas. Seeing their curiosity reminds me of my younger self, but now, I can offer them the tools to connect with their heritage in ways I never could. Through Jain Enlightened, I’ve not only embraced my identity as a Jain but also found a way to contribute to the preservation and dissemination of Jain philosophy.
These last few years have been transformational. While I’ve made significant strides in computational linguistics and my mission with Jain Enlightened, this is just the beginning. My passion for blending the ancient with the modern drives me. I am eager to continue this journey that began on the steps of Girnar. This is my passion, my purpose, and the story I’m eager to continue, driven by the wisdom of my heritage that shapes who I am.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Jain Enlightened is how I contribute to solving the lingual gaps in Jain teachings that affect millions of Jains across the world. In my research and various internships, I’ve concentrated on improving AI translation accuracy—especially crucial when it comes to translating Jain scriptures, which have limited, specialized datasets and nuanced meanings that conventional models often struggle to capture accurately. I overcame these problems by taking my independent research, and my research at SMU, with Dr. Labiba, where I focused on developing machine learning and natural language processing models, focused on getting top-notch accuracies with a limited dataset, and improved my translations for Jain scripture by over 10%, where hundreds of users both on my app and website learn from every day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an aspiring computational linguist, educator, and researcher dedicated to merging computer science with language to make ancient philosophies more accessible. My work is focused on applying AI and linguistic technology to preserve and share Jain teachings, something I am deeply passionate about. One of my proudest accomplishments is developing an app, available on both the App Store and Play Store, which serves as an interactive platform for Jain education. What sets me apart is my commitment to using cutting-edge technology to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, making me one of the few focused on preserving Jain philosophy through AI-driven innovation.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My journey is largely credited to Acharya Shri Yashovijayji Maharaj Saheb, a monk who is so close and integrated with Jainism that I can not even describe it with words. He has helped countless souls and given guidance to countless more. It was during my time in India when I would go to the monastery where Yashovijayji Maharaj Saheb and other devoted monks would stay, that I embarked on my first podcast and blog. His teachings and knowledge connect with every audience, and my podcast with him was one of my most memorable moments. With his blessings, vision, and encouragement, I have been able to expand my nonprofit into a platform that spans from Costa Rica to the USA to India. I owe much of my journey to his mentorship, and I am deeply grateful for his support in helping me bring Jain’s values to a global audience.
Pricing:
- Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jainenlightened.org
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JainEnlightened
Image Credits
NA
