Dadi Janki, Administrative Head BKWSU 2007-
Dadi Janki Kripalani is the administrative head of the Brahma Kumaris. She has held this position since the passing of Dadi Prakashmani in 2007. One of the few Dadis who were both married and a mother, she joined the organization
some time after it was founded. She was not a member of the original management committee as is sometimes claimed, nor was she on the founders list as 'one of the 8'.
Dadi Janki oversaw the growth of the Brahma
Kumaris in countries outside India from the mid 1970’s when she left India to be based in London, where a centre had been established. Dadi has a memorable presence. She is revered by BK adherents, and her courage and energy in promoting
the cause are unstinting. Until recently (she is possibly 100 years old) she travelled the world encouraging the faithful and giving public talks and holding meetings daily. Dadi Janki’s extended talks in Madhuban often used to number three a day,
and all BKWSU students were expected to attend.
Dadi Janki lacks the authority in India that Dadi Prakashmani held, and is known as ‘the foreign Dadi’. Dadi Janki’s close circle promote her
strongly outside of India, and she successfully engages smaller groups with her spiritual elan. She is less successful communicating with very large groups, partly because she speaks in Hindi, and translation detracts from her message.
Dadi Janki is a very successful fund raiser, and has attracted many millions of dollars to the BKWSU charity, through the Janki Foundation, and substantial funds for major building construction in London and elsewhere in the UK.
Dadi has a strong devotional attitude to the founder Lekraj Kripalani ‘Brahma Baba’, and can be a stern critic of those she feels are slacking in their spiritual effort : this has led to her occasional nickname
Dadi Cranky.
Dadi's health is up and down, but her energy continues to astonish. She now spends most of her time in BK Madhuban, with only occasional visits abroad.