Ahimsa Times 2009 04 SrNo 106

Author(s): Ahimsa Times
Publisher: Ahimsa Times

Page 10

AHIMSA TIMES - APRIL 2009 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 10 of 15
to improve standard of life. He laid special emphasis on the education of women. He motivated the society to establish a large number of schools, college, gurukuls, libraries and centres of craft and learning in many parts of the country. Opening of Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalay at Mumbai as far back as 1915 and its subsequent branches, Shri Atmanand Jain Gurukul at Gujranwala and Shri Atmanand Jain college at Ambala are just but a few of the glorious examples. Some people were, however, skeptical that modern education would spoil culture. To dispel their doubts and apprehensions he gave a beautiful example by saying "In thid developing age, if one wants to light the room or move the fan or start a machine, use of electricity is essential. And God forbid if electricity burns someone, the fault lies with the user and not with electricity.
Acharyashree was an exponent of research work. He became instrumental in collecting and preserving thousands of volumes of priceless handwritten manuscripts and published works on Indology at Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya, Mumbai and Jain Gurukul Gujranwala and other libraries as valuable store house of knowledge and cultural heritage. He advised to marshal the existing data within the framework of modern research. Acharyashree aroused people from slumber wherever he went during the freedom movement. Identifying himself with freedom struggle, Acharyashree wore khadi throughout his life. He was a patriot to the core. Swadeshi found an echo in his speeches. Acharyashree strongly depreciated display of wealth and extravagance on social occasion, dowry and such other evils. Though born in Gujrat, he always promoted Hindi as national language. He was a renowned orator, author and poet. In addition to sevral works in prose, he wrote about 1600 poems, songs and hymns in Hindi, rich both in language and content.
Acharyashree came into contact with great patriots of the nation like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Shri Moraji Desai and other stalwarts of the freedom movement and luminaries of pre and post independence era. He supported Satyagraha and non-cooperation as potent yet non-violent tools to achieve independence. His 14 points formula for worked peace, highly appreciated by Shri Moraji Desai and the then Prime Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru became the base for Panchsheel doctrine. For the all round development of the society, Acharyashree had, in fact,made shiksha (education), seva (service), sangathan (unity), sahitya (literature) and swavlamban (self-reliance) as his creed and mission of life. Courtesy : Shri. Raj Kumar Jain, Secretary General Shree Atma Vallabh Jain Samarak Shikshan Nidhi, Delhi - 110 036. E-Mail : rkjain@enkayrub.com, Tele : 27693333 & 34
NA POSTAL STAMPS ISSUED TO HONOUR -HARAKH CHAND NAHATA
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Shri. Harakh Chand Nahata was a prominent Indian businessman and social leader. He was the first person who started road transportation in the difficult and inhabitable terrain of Tripura. Handling the largest Railway Out agency in Tripura (Tripura Town out Agency) and establishing a large network of road transport at heavy costs and
risks, he was instrumental in starting economic development and two way traffic to bring economic gains for the tribal people and the state of Tripura. He contributed a lot for the development of cinema in Eastern India through his Technicians Studio. Calcutta, with which many internationally acclaimed directors like Satyajit Ray, Hritwik Ghatak & Basu Bhattacharya etc. were associated. Later, he turned a film financier and Realtor and was known as an honest and upright person in trade circles, Shri Harakh Chand Nahata encouraged many upcoming artists of films and performing arts with his sanguine advice, help and patronage. He was a great connoisseur of art and literature and secretly helped many budding artists, poets and writers. He spotted talents of writers and published many books at his own cost to encourage them including a Hindi monthly magazine. He was a prolific reader with a razor sharp analytical mind and compassioned heart. Date Of Issue:28.02.2009
THEFT IN JAIN TEMPLES The cases of theft of valuable items in Jain temples keep on occurring frequently and only in rare cases, the culprits have been brought to book by the authorities. Recently, theft of two Jain idols and donation boxes took place in a Digambar Jain temple at Vaishnodevi Nagar near the airport in Jaipur. The thieves broke open the wooden door to make entry into the main hall of the temple. The two idols belonged to Shri Parshwanath Ji and Shri Muni Suvrat swami. The donation boxes contained about six months' collection. The matter was promptly reported to the local police but no arrests have reportedly been made so far. Likewise, theft case occurred at
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