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I agree with you in your opinion about Shri Virchand Gandhiji. He was a great Gujrati and it would be desirable if something is done to perpetuate his memory.
On one point I differ from you. Whatever is to be done, at his birth centenary or to honour him should be done by the people of Gujrat. The government can help, but the elite of the society or well-known organisations should make the beginning. The government cannot take up such activities on its own. Even if other regional governments have taken a different stand in the case of Swami Vivekananda or Rabindranath Tagore, I think it is advisable that such activities should be taken up by the people. For this purposes, some organisations like the Gujrati Sahitya Parishad, Gujarati Sahitya Sabha, Gujarat Vidyasabha or the people of Mahuva, or the whole of Gujarat and Saurashtra can come together to felicitate the memory not only of Virchandbhai, but also of others like Karsandas Malji and other great Gujaratis. It is necessary that Gujarat should commumorate them. It is neither possible nor desirable that the state should take up such projects. It is certainly desirable that the State should aid such popular activities.
27-9-1964
Ahemdabad - 15
A lot of chaos prevails in our society regarding the lives of our great men. And so, anyone trying to write their biographies has to face a number of problems. Only those who have experienced this can know this. And yet, in order to complete the activity taken up, one has to find some way out. So please try to find out files of old periodicals and put them to use (for writing this biography of Virchandbhai).
Jain Education International
Balwantrai (Mehta).
Chief Minister, Gujarat State.
99
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