Jains in India and Abroad

SR No.: 007601
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Prakash C Jain
Publisher: International Summer School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 260
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

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and a Shrimad Rajchandra Jnana Mandir. Its fine Jain architecture, including elaborate interior and exterior carvings, has made it a major tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage for the Jains. The Jain Samaj Europe has published books and a journal on Jainism. Jains in Europe are seeking to widen their activities through the creation of inter-faith' links such as the Jain-Christian Association, the Jain-Jewish Association and the Leicestershire Ahimsa Society for the Care of Nature" (Shah 1998: 80).
A major initiative taken by the Jains in U. K. was the establishment of Institute of Jainology. The Institute, conceived in 1983 at the first International Jain Conference in London, has campuses in Greenford (Middlesex, U. K.) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India). It is a charitable trust registered in 1986. The following are the major aims and objectives of the Institute: (1) To raise awareness of the history, art, philosophy, and practices of the Jain faith to the Jain and the wider community. In particular, to promote its relevance to today's world with regard to key aspects such as the environment and respect for all living beings. (2) To provide a platform for interaction between different community organizations, where all Jains, regardless of their tradition and background, jointly promote the faith with the aim of encouraging a sense of Jain unity. (3) To promote interfaith relationships in order to acquaint the Jain community with other religions to create a better understanding of Jainism. (4) To provide more opportunities for the study of Jainism, both at community level, at institutions of higher learning and to facilitate scholarly research on Jainism through the establishment of scholarships and cataloguing of Jain manuscripts and artifacts.
The institute commenced its activities with educational programmes; by bringing guest scholars from India to the UK, publishing newsletters and distributing religious literature and books. In various activities of the institute the Oshwal Association and the Navnat Vanik Association are deeply involved. One of the major achievements of the institute has been the finalization of Jain Declaration on Nature which was incorporated by the World Wide Fund (WWF) on nature in October 1990 as official entry of the Jain faith into the WWF Network on conservation and religion. The preparation of this document involved about thirty scholars from
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Jains in India and Abroad