Ek Tha Veer Virchand Raghavji Gandhi

Author(s): South Asian Times
Publisher: South Asian Times
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/250393/1

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August 16-22, 2014 The South Asian Times.info CELEBRATING 686" INDEPENDENCE DAY INDIA GROWING STRONGER & MORE PROSPEROUS 50 EK THA VEER Mahatma Gandhi & Virchand Gandhi were Friends and had lived together for some time. Virchand Gandhi as a brother used to help Mahatma Gandhi in understanding Study of Indian Law by telling him different Stories of Vakils and Stalwarts (Ref: Mahatma Gandhi's Autobiography) In a June 13, 1931 letter, Mahatma Gandhi clarified to Miss Emelia Mac Bean of Chicago when she had mistook him as Virehand R Gandhi, Let's pay a befitting tribute to Virchand Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary Aug 25 for his services to country, mankind and community. Creation: Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh Virchand Raghavji Gandhi a 19th Century Benevolent Indian "Madam, I have your letter for which I thank you. By Pankaz Boddam. Gandhi, his services for You are giving me credit of which I am wholly undeserving. Chandmal Hingarh Now, coming back to to 1893's country, mankind and com You are thinking of another Mr. Gandhi my name-sake event. The World's Parliament of munity. This 25th August, but in no way related to me. Cell as the title conveys, we Religions, was held on the shore of He and I were, however, friends and lived together for some time. 2014 is 150th Birth You will be sorry to hear that he died many years ago, are here to remember a Lake Michigan, Chicago. It was Anniversary of this Indian leaving an only son. brave heroic legend. A dominated by English speaking legend. Let's pay homage to It was he who visited America and made many friends. veer who dauntlessly displayed his Christian representatives, who deliv- such a legend. I have never had the privilege of visiting your continent." patriotism for mother India on ered 153 of 194 speeches. (The author is credited with Mahatma Gandhi September 25, 1893 at historic Opportunity for the leaders from maximum modern researches World Parliament of Religions in other religious traditions was limit- 0 Chicago by defending Indian culture ed, although significant. Twelve & Hinduism where he was a dele- speakers represented Buddhism, 11 gate to represent Jainism. Hon'ble Judaism, 8 Hinduism, 2 Islam, 2 PM of India Shree Narendrabhai Parsi, 2 Shintoism, 2 Confucianism, 1. A dauntless patriot who defended Hinduism, Indian Culture, Modi had referred to this Veer in his Taoism and 1 Jainism. There were represented Jainism in 1893's Parliament of World Religions address to the Indian Diaspora many Christian speakers who appre in Chicago on 11th, 25th & 27th September, 1893 & received round of across US & Canada when he was appaulause on 25th Sept. 1893 (Ref: Richard Hughes Seager 1896 ) & ciated the oriental religions and also on 27th Sept. 1893 (Ref: Rev.J.H.Barrows Book), the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He the depth to which they have was none other than Virchand reached. 2. An early Indian Real Estate Analyst who participated and delivered Raghavji Gandhi. Virchand Gandhi's speech on the interesting speech on 25th Oct. 1893 in WORLD REAL ESTATE CONGRESS 'history and the tenets of the Jaina' in Chicago, on Land System of India & existing LAWS & CONDITIONS affecting Flash Back: In 19th century colo- the ownership & transfer of land in India. was admired. But in between nial India, which was under British derogatory remarks on Indian cul 3. An early Indian Economist who as sole indian delegate participated raj things were quite difficult. ture and Hinduism made by Rev. in world's 3rd historic conference International Congress Amidst all the unrest, in 1893, a George F. Pentecost and others were of Commerce by Philadelphia Commercial Museum and lectured World's Fair Exposition was too much for a true patriot like on 'TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND INDIA 'Parcel Post & Commercial Education' planned and organized in Chicago. Virchand Gandhi. He retaliated to on 19th & 20th oct.1899 The World's Congress of Religions every attack made on Indian culture was the largest of the congresses and Hinduism before he got back 4. A Reformer who established in Chicago 'Society for the held in conjunction with the with his presentation. His patriotic Education of Women in India' Exposition. speech echoed true spirit and culture 5. A philanthropist who collected and sent Rs 40,000 and This event was birth of formal of India. a shipload of grains from the USA to India during interreligious dialogue. Each reli- Theosophical Society co-founder the worst famine of 1896-97 gion's highest spiritual masters were Henry Steel Olcott had mentioned in invited to represent their religion. To 6. A virtuous person who played instrumental role in his authentic book (Old Diary settling Shree Palitana Pilgrim Tax Dispute represent Jainism, highest authority Leaves' that Vivekananda, VR & winning Shree Sammet Shikhar's Piggery case of Jains, Munishree Atmaramji alias Gandhi, Dharmapala had captivated Acharyashree Vijayanandsuriji was all at the parliament, 7. Delivered 535 speeches in USA and Europe on Yoga, invited and appointed as a member Occult Science, World Religions , Concentration, CAPTIVATING 535 SPEECHES Science of Eating, Astral Vision , Astral Body,etc of Advisory Council of the Parliament of the Religions. As he IN WEST: couldn't attend the same, he trained VRG delivered 535 lectures mainand deputed his disciple Shree ly in different parts of USA and Virchand Raghavji Gandhi. Europe and was nationally and inter nationally felicitated with many Brief Background of Virchand medals and widely covered in leadGandhi (VRG): By then Virchand ing western newspapers. He spoke Gandhi had mastered 14 languages on a plethora of subjects like Indian "Now here is Virchand Gandhi, and fundamentals of all major world international trade system, Indian religions. He was born in an affluent economic and industrial outlook, the Jain whom you knew well Jain Family in 'Kashmir of real estate, ancient history of Indian in Bombay. This man never Saurashtra', Mahuva. Before his civilization, science of eating, yoga, takes anything but mere vegetables birth his mother had seen an auspi- concentration, hypnotism, astral even in this terribly cold climate cious dream. Virchand as a brother vision and astral body, occultism, and tooth and nail tries to defend used to help Mahatma Gandhi in vegetarianism & fundamentals of his countrymen and the religion. understanding Indian Law by telling world religions. He was admired different stories of lawyers and stal- most for practicing universal broth The people of this country warts. As first honorary secretary of erhood. like him very well. ..." Jain Association of India he had He died at age of 37 on 7th - Swami Vivekananda already proved his unique ability August, 1901. From three heroes of and service for community by suc- 1893's event, today Shree Swami cessfully abolishing pilgrim tax Vivekanandji & Shree from Palitana's holy pilgrimage and Dharampalji's contributions are duly getting tallow factory closed from recognized in India and Srilanka. Shree Sammed Shikharji holy teerth It's appreciable. Now it's time to which was run by an English man also duly recognize hero Virchand Research & Creation : Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh & Chandresh Dhiraj Gandhi In 1894 from Chicago in a letter to Haridas Desai Swami Vivekananda mentioned about Virchand R Gandhi Creation: Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh