Ahimsa Times 2008 02 SrNo 92

Author(s): Ahimsa Times
Publisher: Ahimsa Times

Page 8

AHIMSA TIMES - FEBRUARY 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 8 of 15
MAHATMA GANDHI'S AHIMSA IS INSPIRATION FOR BARACK OBAMA WASHINGTON: Vowing to strengthen ties with the India, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has noted that the hardworking Indian-American professionals are adding to the "richness" of the US society and invited the community to join him in renewing the strength of this country. The Illinois Democrat, who is giving his party rival for presidential nomination Hillary Clinton a run for her money and hopes, recognised the major contributions of Indian-American community to the US economy as well as the fabric of the American society. Obama also wrote that he sees Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of ahimsa as an inspiration and has a portrait of the apostle of peace in his office to remind him that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. "In my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things," he wrote.
JAINS EXPRESS ANGUISH OVER NON-INCLUSION OF PAWAPURI IN PRESIDENT'S ITINERARY - Patna, February 16: Patna Jain Sangh has expressed deeply felt anguish over the non-inclusion of Pawapuri Jal Mandir in the itinerary of President Mrs Pratibha Patil. Secretary of the Jain Sangh, Pradip Jain in a letter written to the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that President's programme included the visit of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali but Pawapuri was left out although Bihar is known for its history and traditions of Buddhism and Jainism alike. Last time when the then President Sri APJ Abdul Kalam had visited Bihar, sacred Pawapuri was also included in his itinerary. Referring to the advertisement entitled 'Gyan ki Dharti Bihar men Rashtrapati Mahoday Ka Swagat' published by information and public relations department, Govt of Bihar in newspapers of Patna on February 15, he said that it carried the photographs of Bodh Gaya and Patna Saheb Gurudwara but not of that Pawapuri or any other Jain shrine, which had hurt Jain sentiments. He urged the Chief Minister to give equal treatment to Jain shrines during VIPs visits to the state and in government advertisements and publicity material. Jain has also written Secretary, IPRD, Bihar in this connection. Sri Pradip Jain, secretary Jain Sangh of Patna can be contacted at Redg. Office post box no. 128, Mithapur, Patna 800 001. PH: 0091-612-2215929, E-Mail: philapradip@gmail.com
JAIN TRUST MOVES HC AGAINST ANOTHER JAIN TRUST OVER TRAFFICKED' IDOLS
MUMBAI: Ancient idols of Jain deities allegedly trafficked from Gujarat may need the attention of the Bombay High Court to reach their final destination. Mumbai residents Dilip Shah and Shree Patan Jain Tirth Seva Samiti (SPJTSS) moved court against another trust in Shahapur, Thane, for allegedly bringing in 61 registered idols and 16 marble idols from Patan in Gujarat to a temple in Shahapur. The petition states that under the Archaeology and Antiquities Act, 1972, idols over 100 years cannot be shifted to another location. The two main idols of Ghia Parshwanath and Shantinath are 2,200 years old and the other idols are over 500 years old. This is a clear violation of the law and the idols should be handed over to the Gujarat archeological department. The idols were originally placed in Patan in Gujarat and were managed by the Ghiyanapada Jain Derasar Trust. The petition however alleges that the Trust allegedly in connivance with Shetrunjay Teerthdham Bhuvanbhan Manas Mandiram Trust, Shahpur and Abhinandanswami Jain Derasar Trust, Sion, sent the deities into Maharashtra stating that more devotees would visit the temples in Shahapur. They have also built two new temples for the installation of these deities.
Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice SA Bobade heard the petition and directed the STBMMT to file their reply to the petition in one week. The petitioner had first filed a police complaint in July 2005
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8/11/2009