Jains Today in World

SR No.: 001794
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, Religion, E000, & E005
File Size: 24 MB

Page 42

Their Long History : 13 of the Parliament of world religions in Chicago (USA). He sent a young delegate, Virchand Raghav Gandhi, who intervened in the discussions in a very remarkable manner. He raised the interest of the participants in this conference who decided to include the Jainism among the great world religions. Since then, distinguished Jain leaders take part regularly in the “Inter-faiths conferences" where they expose the great traditional tenets of non-violence, respect towards all kind of life, nature protection, tolerance and peace.
Fifthly, another main reason for the expansion and awareness of Jainism has been the emigration of numerous Jain families from the middle of the XXth century onwards. Since 1950, Jain laities have created communities in Great Britain and from the "sixties" in Canada and the United States of America. It was the same in some parts of Africa especially in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the South. The integration of Jains in North America and in England accelerated after the departure of numerous Indians from Kenya and Tanzania, due to terrible tragedies in these countries in 1967-68, as well in Uganda in 1971.
Sixthly, Gurudev Chitrabhanu, set foot in the West for the first time in 1971. He created the "Jain Meditation International Centre" in 1974 in New York and played an important part in the establishment of Jain communities in North America. In 1975, the Acharya Sushil Kumar arrived in the USA.
In 1981, the first “World Conference on Jainism" was assembled in New York. In the same year, Jain communities in North America regrouped themselves in the "Jain Associations In North America" (JAINA) that organized its first Convention in Los Angeles. In Great Britain, Jaina Samāja Europe was created and later built, under the leadership of Dr. Natubhai Shah, a splendid religious centre, with temple, library and annexes, in Leicester.
In 1983, a new “World Conference on Jainism“ was organized in London. In the same year, Acharya Sushil Kumar led the foundation