Ahimsa Varsh 2600th Birth Anniversary of Mahavir Swami

Author(s): Naresh Jain, P Jayaraman
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 52

First Jain Messenger of Non-Violence to the West
- Pravin C. Shah Chair Person, Shri V. R. Gandhi Scholarship Committee, JAINA
Shri Virchand Raghavji
Gandhi
irst Jain, ever to spread Lord Mahavir's message of Universal love and
non-violence to the west was Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi. He attended the first ever held Parliament of World Religions, in Chicago in 1893 as a representative of Jain religion, at the age of 29. Swami Vivekananda came to represent Hindu Religion. Shrimad Acharya Vijayanand Suri (Atmanandji) was invited to attend. But being Jain monk, he could not. So Jain Association of India selected Shri Virchand Gandhi. He attended it in traditional Kathiawadi costume wearing dhoti, kurta, golden bordered turban (paghdi), white shawl on his shoulder and pointed country shoes.
Shri Virchand Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Shrimad Rajchandra were contemporaries. Shri Virchand Gandhi was born at Mahuva, Gujarat on Aug. 25, 1864. He was a great exponent of Indian culture, religion and philosophy as well as a brilliant scholar of Jainism and other world religions. He was a great patriot and humanitarian too. He was the first Jain graduate of Bombay University in 1884 at the age of 20. He was the first elected secretary of Jain associ
mies like passion, hatred, anger, greed ete.
His approach was most nonsectarian, he had an impartial ideology. He had a deep knowledge of all religions. Many literary and spiritual institutions, churches, societies honored him and accorded him warm welcome. His speeches echoed the true spirit, culture, and perspective of India.
When he was in the USA in 1897, India was engulfed in worst famine. He arranged whole shipload of foodgrains and forty thousand rupees. He had established a relief committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. C. C. Bonney, then president of Parliament of world religions. He had also visited England, France, Germany, etc. and gave lectures about Jainism there. Thousands of his followers practiced Jainism under his influence and became vegetarians. One of them, English gentleman, Herbert Warren wrote books on Jainism.
His lifetime mission was to spread Lord Mahavir's message of universal love and non-violence, across the world.
Born: Aug. 25, 1864 Died: Aug, 7, 1901
ations of India, in 1885 at the age of 21.
He was a social reformer and succeeded in eradicating some social evils.
In the West he spoke on the Jain code of conduct, Jain way of life, non-violence, Anekantvad (multiplicity of views) and Karma philosophy and convinced people about Jain religion as a rational and authentic religion.
He explained the meaning of Jaina as follower of Jina who conquers one's own inner ene