Gandhi Before Gandhi

SR No.: 007501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai
Publication Year: 2009
Total Pages: 198
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & History
File Size: 34 MB

Page 174

GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
SOCIAL REFORMER
Evil Social tradition of 'Weeping and Breast beating on death of relative
Established a 'Society for the Education of Women
of India (SEWI).'
It promoted women community from India to USA for higher education
Many countries have some orthodox traditions which are neither relevant nor logical. One of such tradition in the birth place of Mr Virchand Gandhi was the tradition of "Weeping and breast beating on the death of a person'. On the death of a person, women of the family and other relatives used to gather and perform the act of loud weeping and violent breast beating to exhibit their sadness It is accepted if some very dear one cries or gets mental shock on the death of family member but such violent and nauseating act in public was looking artificial and dramatic. Some women in their over enthusiasm would weep and beat the breasts in such a way that for a passer by it would become a laughing stock. Mr Raghavi Gandhi, father of Mr Virchand Gandhi was very much against such tradition. Mr Virchand Gandhi wanted to write against this tradition but due to his preoccupation with other important matters he could not do so. But to fulfill his mission he invited best essay on this subject through a small Jain monthly magazine 'Shree Jain Hitechchhu' and offered the prize of Rs. 25 for the best essay. One Mr Ravji Devraj of Koda, Kutch
won this prize. Mr Virchand Gandhi edited this article and published with some modifications in the year
1886 He detailed various physical, mental and
and
social evils associated with such traditions. He also raised
his voice against on more such evil practiced after the death of a person called "Dado". means compulsory serving the feast to all relatives on a death in family. He appealed to all prosperous people to come forward to abolish this so that poor and middle class people need not suffer and spend unnecessarily. We shall present some of the spiritual stanzas which were used in this essay with their meanings
नष्टं मृतमतिक्रांतं नानुशोचंति पंडिताः ।
पंडितानां च मूर्खाणां विशेषोऽयं यतःस्मृतः ।। One that is destroyed, one who has died, and for what has happened, Wise and learned do not feel sad. This is the difference between wise and fool.
नानाप्यमक्षिवांछंति नष्टं नेच्छंति शोचित ।
आपत्स्यपि न मुहांति नराः पंडितबुनया ।। Learned do not desire what is not available, do not pain for what is lost and does not get attached to materials even in adversities, because they know that whenever there is a birth, there is a death.
सोएण कदिफणं कुटेकणे सिर च उजर च
अयं ख्रिति नरए से पिटु घिडि कुनहतं । Pains evolved from the death of dear one and subsequent act of weeping or beating the breast can lead us to Hell and hence I hate that act.
शोचंति स्वजनानंतं नीयमानान् स्वकर्मभिः ।।
निष्यमाणं तु शोचंति नात्मानं मूडबुद्धयः ।। People without wisdom feel pains at the death of their relatives who die of their own Karmas, but do not realize or pain for the fact that every one will have their end.
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