H. Jay Dinshah was born in the Malaga section of Franklin Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, where he lived his entire life.

[13][14] Dinshah founded the American Vegan Society early in 1960, and later that year (August) married the English-born Freya Smith.

Throughout his life, Dinshah continued to lecture and to organize conferences advocating "positive veganism" as "dynamic harmlessness" ("Ahimsa" is derived from a Sanskrit term meaning "non-harming").

Crediting the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer, Dinshah created and promoted the Pillars of Ahimsa, one for each letter of the word: A-H-I-M-S-A.

[18][11][19] During conference planning, the ad hoc committee decided to found the North American Vegetarian Society and asked Dinshah to serve as its first president.

In 1961, Dinshah attended the American Natural Hygiene Society's Convention in Chicago which featured a display of vegan clothing.