Jaina Gazette 1927

SR No.: 034889
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J L Jaini, Ajitprasad
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office
Publication Year: 1927
Total Pages: 568
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 80

HIGHER EDUCATION
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Our commercial interests, almost of international importance, as well as our great political and economic interests in this country stand in urgent need of protection. But we are incapable of studying the requisite issues without a sound University education: Do we realise that our political rights are being deliberately shoved to the wall by garrulous and self-assertive communities in the land ? Do we feel that we are being steadily elbowed out of trade and commerce, resulting in the concomitant diminution of our wealth ? And if so to what extent and by what means? It is unlikely that the answers could be in the affirmative. Some of us may have foggy notions, which are of little avail. Our prestige and power is daily declining. The Jains have ruled over India in the past. In Akbar's time the Jains numbered over three crores and constituted the financial backbone of the country. As a community we occupied the foremost position of honour in Rajasthan, on account of our unflinching loyalty, self-sacrifice integrity and virtue in general. But we are losing touch with all these proud traditions. Degeneracy is setting in for want of education. In these days the successful pursuit of trade and commerce too requires a fairly high level of education. The educated businessman with his thorough knowledge, organization and enterprise has come to supplant the unlettered shopkeeper who just knows how to filch petty advantages to continue to exist in a miserable manner.
Apart from broadening the mind, a sound education implies the healthy development of character and physique. We cannot surely afford to neglect either of the latter. Scarecrows and fat bloated wretches are not an ornament to any Society. They can derive little joy in life, the spontaneous joy of a vigorous lusty health. Again it is futile to imagine that our incongruous social ethics, customs of enormous waste, and silly superstitions could be exorcised away except by illuminating the mass mind with higher education. All our disunion and bitterness is the logical outcome of a grovelling ignorance. It is noteworthy and significant that educated Jains belonging to the various sects gladly meet each
other on a common platform of mutual understanding and public Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat