Noted Indo-Canadian Journalist-author Ajit Jain passed away on February 2 in Toronto.
Born in Hissar, India to Balmukund and Triveni Jain, and raised both in Hissar and New Delhi, India along with his brothers Umrao, Dhanpat Rai, and Chiranji Lal, and sisters Sitara, Gunni, Janno, Nirmala, Darshan, and Nimmi.”
Ajit is survived by his wife of 44 years, whom he met in 1972, Rosalinda and his children, Lakshmi (Hani) and Ajit (Purvi), his grandchildren Sofia, Ajit (Pistachio), Sarafina, Talu, and Baby Lolo who was born on January 31, 2018. In India over 200 family members remember him lovingly.”
Ajit studied Political Science at Punjab University and began his career with the Swatantra Party in New Delhi where he served as parliamentary secretary. He proceeded to embark on a lifelong career in journalism and writing that he cherished which allowed him to meet Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1960s.
He published many books on India and India’s relationship with the world before he met and fell in love with Rosalinda on an October day in 1972, in San Francisco. Once married they settled in Mexico City. There, Ajit continued his love of journalism and worked for El Sol De Mexico and other Mexican publications until, in January 1981, he moved his family to Toronto.”
In Toronto, Ajit embarked on what would define his professional life. He became a champion for the Indo-Canadian community in Canada through his work with India Abroad Newspaper. He was proud of the successes of his fellow Indo-Canadians and never hesitated to write about and promote their achievements. Through his work he became a leader in the Indo-Canadian community in Toronto and across Canada.
A personal point of pride for him was his instrumental role in planning and executing the 50th Anniversary of India’s Independence celebrations in Toronto in 1997.
In recent years he focused his energy on the Power List with India Abroad and his own A-List publication. Both of which focused on a list of the most influential Indo-Canadians of the time.
Once again, Ajit had found a medium through which he could promote the successes of his fellow Indo-Canadians. His children will take over the role of publishing his final A-List in the coming months.”
Later in his life he joined the Ontario Human Rights Commission and spent over ten years working on Human Rights cases. His eye for fairness, equality and justice made him the perfect candidate.
The character traits that defined him as a man came to him partly through his religious faith. He believed in non-violence through thoughts and actions as a true Jain. He was a member of the Jain Community of Toronto and did his best to pass on his faith to his kids and promote his religion to the mainstream.”
Although he never worked for the sake of accolades, he was honoured with the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce President’s Award in 1996, the Indian High Commssion’s Best Publication Award in 2004, the Gandhi Peace Festival Award for Distinguished Community Service in 2012 and man other community awards that honoured his work for the community over the years.”