YJ International Newsletter 2004 Vol 18 No 03

SR No.: 527771
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Young Jains (UK)
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 28
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK Young Jains, & UK
File Size: 11 MB

Page 18

YOUNG JAINS STUDENTS
Compiled By Priya Kothari (YJS Cambridge)
I had been brought up in a Jain family and taught Jain values and these were all really important to me. At university having not met many Jain people I had lost touch with these, but I definitely knew that I had not lost the knowledge of these values.
An Introduction to Young Jains Students Bhavin Shah
YJS Co-ordinator
students@youngjains.org.uk
University is a very important stage in ones life. Often we leave the comfort of our homes and our family and move away to a place far away. Many of us feel that we are at university to get a degree so that our family and elders can pat us on the back and say 'Beta, you are so clever'. However university should also be a time where one develops into a young adult and discovers themselves. It is often what you learn outside that large lecture theatre that will help shape your career and your post-graduate life.
Arriving at university can be daunting. Someone once put it to me that it was like being 'a small fish in a giant pond'. Imagine this atmosphere where you have nowhere to turn for support. It is likely that you will make friends with people around you but sometimes this is not enough. During my first few weeks of university I felt lost and I could not pinpoint why! I had made many friends, the course was going well and I had even managed to find some girls who were willing to cook for me! So why was I feeling empty inside?
The joyous festival of Diwali soon arrived a time to celebrate an important day in the Jain calendar. However my first Diwali at University was not as I had expected. It turned out to be a quiet and depressing day for me. There was no joyous celebrating or gathering in the University and my family was far away. This is the moment when I fully realised why there was still an empty feeling inside of me, despite having made many new friends in the first few weeks of my university life! I was losing touch with my culture and my roots. I had been brought up in a Jain family and taught Jain values and these were all really important to me. At university having not met many Jain people I had lost touch with these values, but I definitely knew that I had not lost the knowledge of these values. My Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish friends all had groups on campus where they could interact with like minded people, however there was no place for me to talk to and meet Jain students in an atmosphere such as a Young Jains event or Jain classes at Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth. The homely atmosphere that a Jain gathering could provide was not available to Jain students such as myself. Something had to be done and I was certain that there were other people in the same boat.
After talking to the necessary people within the University and the Students Union, we set up YJS
Warwick. The goal of the society was to create an atmosphere for Jain students where they could keep in touch with their Jain roots whilst they were away from home. Another aim was to increase awareness of Jainism and to establish Jainism as an integral part of life on campus. All of this was possible due to the great support that we had from our parent organisation, Young Jains and from other Jain organisations such as Jain Spirit.
Now that I am graduating this summer I can fully appreciate the impact YJS has had on my three years at University. During the first year I was losing touch with my Jain roots that were ever-present at home. Through YJS Warwick I was able to strengthen these connections. Students across the country have also been able to share in this experience at Aston, Bristol, Cambridge, Leicester, LSE, Manchester and Oxford.
Are you joining University or are you already at University? Have you heard about YJS? Does it exist at your University? If not, you could make it a reality.
Feel free to contact me or anyone else involved within YJS if you would like to get more involved. So are you interested? I can see that you are nodding and getting quite excited....well a YJS event is just around the
corner....
Jains@Uni is back in town!
It is THE opportunity to get involved with Young Jains Students and meet other Jain students. Find out if YJS is present at your university or if you could help set a node up. Catch up with all the friends that you will have made at this year's Convention and meet many more! Besides offering you a chance of emulating these two lovely ladies, there is so much more to life at University. Come find out how YJS can spice up you life!
For Pers & Private Use Only
Date: Friday 10th September 2004 Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm Venue: Harrow High School
PLUS SOCIAL AFTERWARDS!