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Legacy of Virchand Gandhi and Jaina Philosophy
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RANESH T. SOLANKI
Introduction
India is the cradle of civilization and the mother of all religions. Those of us, who have migrated from our motherland, brought with us our culture and religious faith. Weshall pass our heritage to the next generation with a hope that this trend will continue. Those of us who are actively engaged in promoting and preserving our religious faith in this country, are grateful to a Jaina Scholar and Philosopher, Mr. Virchand Gandhi.
Several scholars and philosophers who left their foot prints on this globe were born during the nineteenth century. Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh, Swami Vivekananda, and two Gandhis' were among them. One was Virchand Gandhi, a Jaina Scholar and philosopher. Other was Mahatma Gandhi, also known as the Father of India.
1893 Parliament
One hundred years ago at the Parliament of the World's religions conference held in Chicago, America and the western world for the first time heard the determined and spirited voice of ancient India, and the message of Indian philosophy and culture. An Indian delegate Mr.Virchand Gandhi participated in this conference and awakened the western world to the spiritual heritage of India. He was the Jaina Philosopher who brought the principles of Jainism to the western world.
Virchand Gandhi, a young man of twenty nine, impressed the delegates not only by his enthusiasm, but also by the sheer weight of his scholarship. At the Parliament, he was dressed in a impressive Indian attire with a turban on his head and country shoes. The external appearance bore
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