Nikunj & Jyoti Parekh

Jyoti & Nikunj Parekh have converted a vast number of Indians into bonsai, saikei and greenery enthusiasts. They tend to more than 1,000 bonsai and pre-bonsai materials at their apartment terraces and farm.

Early in 1970, Jyoti began experimenting with tropical trees for bonsai and, by 1977, she authored Tropical Bonsai, the first such book on bonsai in the tropics. By 1979, the husband and wife duo founded the bonsai study group, “The Indo-Japanese Association.” Both of them underwent training and received guidance from John Naka, Saburo Kato, Toshio Kawamoto, Tom Yamamoto and Susumu Nakamura. Kenzo Ogata introduced them to Japanese landscaping. The Parekhs have given lectures, demonstrations and workshops, and participated in exhibitions, in Europe, India, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Jyoti was invited as the delegate from India to the 1980 World Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition and Convention held in Osaka, Japan. Nikunj and Jyoti also authored another book, Wonderworld of Tropical Bonsai, printed in English and Hindi. In 1985, Nikunj began publishing the first technical and informative bonsai quarterly magazine in India, “Nichin Bonsai,” which has circulated across India and the tropics for the last 19 years. Also in 1985, they created a bonsai mural depicting complete scenery.

In 1989, Nikunj became the Director of the India Region of the World bonsai Friendship Federation. During the same year, he was given the title of Founder Emeritus of the Bonsai Friendship Federation of India. The JAL World Bonsai Contest has honored them with citations about their bonsai creations. In 2000, Nikunj became a Director of Bonsai Clubs International and the first BCI Ambassador from India.

In 1990, Nikunj and Jyoti were instrumental in leading a group of bonsai enthusiasts to make a small bonsai garden located in Bombay, India, now known as Mumbai. They have given a number of television shows on bonsai, bottle gardening and gardening in general. In 1993, they authored Wonderworld of Bonsai & Saikei in English, which introduced advanced techniques and new plants for bonsai growers.