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Second Convocation : 23.12.96
CONVOCATION ADDRESS JAIN VISHWABHARATI INSTITUTE,
LADNUN, RAJASTHAN
Shri Jagat Singh Mehta
I am honured to be invited to address the graduates of the Anuvrat University. The first convocation of this University was addressed by H. H. The Dalai Lama. I am conscious of the lack of spiritual or academic merit to earn this privilege. I acceptod this invitation because for me Anuvrat is a kind of pilgrimage where even a casual contact may be like a dip in a Holy River. It gives you the exhilaration of feeling cleansed and fortified for greater unselfishness and responsibility to society at large. Anuvrat, the birth place of Ganadhipati Tulsi has come to be seen as a symbol not just of Faith, but of involvement in the challenges of the modern world. We are of course reminded of the abiding hold of Jainism but this place does not, I would guess, teach you that individual's salvation lies in escape but in the drive and search for the solutions of societal problems. Jainism emphasizes respect for life, it implies a firm rejection of militarism. This looks more and more prophetic in a needlessly over militarised world. The world is boset with conflicts but there is a grounds well of pro-test against weapons of destruction. Apuvrat also symbolises a special quality of leadership. Sages like Ganadhipati Tutsi, Acharya Mahaprajya show that they command respect not because they have any political authority but because they are living examples of moral strength. This kind of leadership promises no rewards. These are leaders whose life style embodies their message of self-discipline, renunciation, rejection of material comfort. Unlike the old Rishis and many other contemporary religious leaders they are vocal and earnest for peace. Jain Vishwabharati Institute in this heart land of Rajasthan has become a haven for inspiration for the message of peace.
The existence of Vishwabharati is also a proof that hore in Independent India there is freedom of faith and a catholicity to allow many paths to the Godhead. Our functioning democracy guarantees secularism. We have never excommunicated the agnos
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| SR No. | 524592 |
| Book Title | Tulsi Prajna 1997 07 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Parmeshwar Solanki |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 1997 |
| Total Pages | 166 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India |
| File Size | 7 MB |