enthusiastic and supported the idea ofa Jain Federation. Prof. Jaini
was very encouraging and gave valuable suggestions. He had
studiedJainismunderPragnachakshuPanditShriSukhlalji.
Third: We contacted leaders ofvarious Jaincommunities in the US
and Canada - Dinesh Dalal and Vinay Jain in Boston, Mahendra
Pandya, Kailash Chandra Jain and Naresh Shah inNewYork, Sanat
Jhaveri in New Jersey, Manoj Dharamsi in Washinton DC,
Ramnikbhai Kothari inToronto,Nancy ShahinRochester,Niranjan
Shah and Prabodh Vaidya in Chicago, Tansukh Salgia and K.C.
Bhaiji inCleveland, PremJain andGirish Shah in San FranciscoBay
area and several others. Every one of them supported the idea of
formingaJain Federationandofferedmanyuseful suggestions.
Fourth: WediscussedtheconceptwithvariouslocalJaincommunity
leadersandmembers. Theyall lovedthe ideaandlenttheirsupport.
We reported back to the Executive Committee of our findings and
feedback. There was a good deal of discussion on the topic in several
ExecutiveCommitteemeetings. Intheend,theExecutiveCommitteeagreed
to move forward with the idea and take the lead in the formation. Further
deliberations in the Executive Committee encompassedpros and cons, work
involved,howtoproceed,finances, etc. Itwasthenthoughtthatthebestway
to startis tocallaFoundingConvention,inviteallJainorganizations inUS &
Canada and proceed with the formation ofJain Federation ifthe attending
delegates agree in the plenary session. The Executive Committee formed a
Convention Committee thatincluded Sudhir Kothari (Chairman), Lalit Shah
(Co Chair), Mahendra Khandhar, Pallavi Sheth, Dhiren Shah and Dinesh
Gala.
It was mid-1980. The Convention Committee needed sometime to
do work externally (with outside delegates) and internally (Convention
venue, hosting, agenda, cost, etc.). The Executive Committee and
Convention Committee agreed to tentatively propose the founding
ConventionplacetobeLosAngelesandduringMemorial Day longweekend
in 1981 (about 9 months away). The Convention Committee promptly
started to function vigorously and methodically. We talked to our spiritual,
academic and outsideJaincommunity leaders. All tentatively agreedtohold
the Founding Convention in Los Angeles in May 1981. All leaders
