DADI JANKI (1916–2020)
Dadi Janki was a revered spiritual teacher, tireless humanitarian, and globally respected leader of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University).
Born on 1 January 1916 in Sindh (now in Pakistan), she displayed a deep spiritual inclination from a young age. Accompanying her father on pilgrimages, she actively advocated vegetarianism and compassionate service. Despite receiving only three years of formal education, her unwavering clarity of purpose and profound conviction shaped her extraordinary journey.
Joining the Brahma Kumaris movement in the 1930s, she committed herself to a life of celibacy and service. Following the Partition of India in 1947, the community relocated to Mount Abu, Rajasthan. In 1974, Dadi Janki was asked to establish the Brahma Kumaris' presence in the West. Although initially hesitant due to her limited English proficiency, she soon won hearts in London and beyond, founding new centers and inspiring thousands with her wisdom and simplicity.
In 2007 Dadi Janki succeeded Dadi Prakashmani as the Administrative Head of the Brahma Kumaris, guiding the institution until her final days. Known for her boundless energy and compassionate leadership, she continued to address gatherings of tens of thousands at Mount Abu well into her centenarian years. Dadi Janki attained mahasamadhi on 27 March 2020 at **Mount Abu at the age of 104.
She was a prominent speaker at Rio Earth Summit, Habitat II in Istanbul (1996), and the Millennium World Peace Summit (2000) in New York. She was also a Patron of the World Congress of Faiths, a member of the World Council of Religious Leaders, and the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
Among her many accolades, King Abdullah II of Jordan conferred upon her the Grand Cordon of the First Order of Al Istiklal in 2004. In 2021, the Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in recognition of her contributions to spiritual upliftment and social service.
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