Girish Shah emigrated from Bombay to northern California in 1963 to pursue graduate studies at the University of California (Berkeley). As an executive consultant with IBM Global Service and numerous other Silicon Valley ventures, he specialized in e-business solutions, retiring in 2004. In 1981 he helped found the Jain Center of Northern California and has been active there since, twice serving as its president. Today he serves as trustee on half a dozen different boards in the San Jose area. He was instrumental in planning the magnificent temple the Jains built in 2000 and a founding member of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council. Within his community he is known as an interfaith activist, attending the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne.