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Jainism in a Global Perspective
sented by only one person viz. Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, who had created a great impact. At that time Jaina monks had not yet taken to travelling overseas and the 27 years old barrister emerged as the sole but very able, articulate and energetic spokesman of the Jaina philosophy. A hundred years later at the recent Chicago Conference, Jaina contingent was 200 - strong, made nine major presentations and thirty-three other lectures and organised Jaina meditation gatherings, set up an impressive publicity booth and distributed thousands of beautifully brought out books, brochures and pamphlets on different aspects of Jaina philosophy. Jains got elected as President, Trustee and members of the Spiritual Assembly.
It is relevant to point out here that in the second half of this century Jaina community has steadily grown in size abroad particularly in USA, UK and Canada in addition to Africa where it had a presence fron period. However, it is only in the last twenty years or so that the overseas Jaina community has activelyorganised itself, set up Jaina temples at many places and in keeping with Jaina philosophy identified itself with environment conservation, animal protection and humanitarian social service projects.
It was an interesting coincidence that hardly two months preceding the opening of the Parliament, in Chicago area a beautiful Jaina temple was inaugurated as part of a Jaina Center occupying nearly 80 acres of land. The rapidly greening campus promises to become environmentally and spiritually a holy and highly inspirational place.
Over 65,000 Jains live in USA and Canada and to cater to their needs big and small temples have come up and are coming up steadily. More than that, community life stressing commonality of religious faith and the need to pass it on to the younger generation has become active. Momentum has also built up to ensure that the principles of Jainism - at once humanitarian and compassionate are also shared with others as they have a universal relevance.
In the foregoing backdrop, it was an impressive show of unity at the global level among different sects of Jaina religion. The Jaina host committee had in it the constituent elements represented from various leading associations of Jains in India and abroad. 'Bhagavāna Mahāvīra,
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