Jain Digest 2004 07 Vol 23 No 3

SR No.: 527093
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 13 MB

Page 33

History of Jains in North
America: "Evolutio
Prof. Paul Dundas in his book "The Jains" writes that Jainism, India's and possibly the world's oldest Religion is least known and least understood outside India. Jains through the ages have made great contributions to the culture, literature, art, architecture, education, welfare and betterment of the India Society. According to Prof. Noel King of University of California and Dr. Surendra Singhvi of Cincinnati, "Jainas and Jaina Scholars did leave India's shore many times during the last 2000 years.
Our clear and documented story begins over 100 years ago in 1893. A Jain Virchand R. Gandhi who arrived in New York aboard the steam ship PARIS in transit to Chicago to attend the first Parliament of World's Religions.. In 1893, one of the sons of Lalan family arrived from Kutch and traveled all over USA and lectured and propagated Jainism.
Jasvant (JV) Mehta,
Chairman North American Jains History Committee:
Many attempts have been made to capture the history of Jainism in North America, but "No serious attempts have been made to record the role of individual Jains in the development of Jainism in North America." Following are some of the major events that took place in the last 50 years which have shaped and enriched our history:
In 1948, Shrenik Kastubhai, studied and lectured in Harvard. In 1958, Girish Chheda, a Jain Cancer Specialist arrived by ship to Buffalo, NY and conducted research for years at the "Rosewell Parl Cancer Hospital"
Virchand Panchand Inc was established in 1944 at 15 Park Raw, New York. In 1945/46, Jethalal Khimchand Kachra Gudka came and lived in New York for three years. In 1948, 10 Jain students arrived to USA for studies one of them was Keshav Chandaria presently in Toronto, Canada, Suresh Zaveri lives in Honolulu, Jayantilal Nemchand Fulchand lives in Nairobi, Kenya - but where are the others?. In 1949, Dhirajlal Premchand Vrajpal came for studies to the USA.
In 1959 Dr. Vastupal Parikh - professor of Chemistry - was possibly the first Jain to settle in Canada. Probably around the same time, Anil and Induben Mehta arrived in Canada as well. In 1962, Mahendra Mehta, an Engineer was possibly the first Jain to arrive to Alberta, Canada. In 1966 Jain Center of America, NY was established.
In 1969 Jain Center of Metropolitan Chicago was established. • In 1971, Gurudev Chitrabhanu first visited the USA, the first Jain Monk to part with monastic traditions, He permanently arrived to the USA in 1974 and established Jain Meditation International Center. . In 1973 Jain Center of Greater Boston and Jain Society of Toronto were established. • In 1975, Acharya Sushil Kumarji arrived in the USA. At the Mahavir Jayanti Celebrations in Cleveland in 1979, the formation and establishment of Jain umbrella organization was discussed between Dr. Tansukh Salgia and Gurudev Chitrabhanu and later on with Acharya Sushil Kumarji. In the same year Jain Center of Northern California and Jain Society of Greater Detroit were established. • Between 1976 and 1980, 10 Jain Centers were established including the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (1980) • The first edition of Jain Directory of North America was released by JCGBin 1979.. • The first Jain Convention was held in 1981 in Los Angeles and was graced by Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Acharya Sushil Kumarji, and Dr. Padmanabh Jaini largely with the efforts of Dr. Lalit Shah, Dr. Tansukh Salgia and Dr. Manoj Dharamsi. It was here that an umbrella organization of all Jain organizations in North America was started and an ad-hoc committee comprising of Dr. Lalit Shah, Dr. Tansukh Salgia, Dr. Manoj Dharamsi, Dinesh Dalal and Girish Shah, was formed under the Presidency of Dr. Lalit Shah, currently living in Ahmedabad. At the second Jaina convention held in May 1983 in New York, the constitution of JAINA was adopted by delegates from 11 Jain centers and the Federation
"People will not
judge us by the creed we
profess or slogan we shout, but our work, sacrifice,
honesty, and purity of character" -
Mahatma Gandhi
31. JAIN DIGEST
FALL 2004
Jain Education Interational 2010_03