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destroying living creatures in the bargain" (Singh 1998: 1330). For the same reason, most Jains drink only strained water, and avoid eating after sunset.
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Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha in South Africa and India and its impact on the racial equality movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the U.S. are some of the successful political applications of Ahimsa (Hay 1979). Therefore, it was highly appropriate that 2nd October, the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi, should have been celebrated as the World Ahimsa Day by the United Nations.
Last, but not the least, Jainism stands for self-reliance, humanism and social welfare. It is often said that there are no beggars and criminals in the Jain community. The Jains run the largest network of philanthropic activities, including schools and hostels, hospitals, dispensaries, birds hospitals, cow-sheds, drinking water facilities, and the non-governmental organisations for disbursement of loans and scholarships for students.
References
Amar, Acharya Gopilal (2009) Victory over Violence: A Critical Appreciation. Lucknow and New Delhi: Shree Bharatvarsheeya Digambar Jain Mahasabha.
Balbir, Nalini, et al. (2006) Catalogue of the Jain Manuscripts of the British Library. 3 Vols. London: British Library and Institute of Jainology.
Bhargava, Dayanand (1968) Jaina Ethics. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Bonacich, E. (1973) "A Theory of Middleman Minorities”, American Sociological Review 38(5): 583-94.
Census of India 2001 (2005) First Report of Religion Data. New Delhi: R. G. Office. Chandra, Moti (1949) Jaina Miniature Paintings from Western India. Ahmedabad Chapple, Christopher Key (2002) Jainism and Ecology: Nonviolence in Web of life. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Desai, P.B. (1957) Jainism in South India and Some Jaina Epigraphs. Sholapur Hardiman, David (1996) Feeding the Bania: Peasants and Usurers in Western India. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Jain, Jyoti Prasad (1983) Religion and Culture of the Jains. 3rd Edition. Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith.
Jain, Kapoor Chand and Jyoti Jain (2006) Swatantrata Sangram mein Jain (Part I) Second Edition. Khatauli: Sarvodaya Foundation.
Jain, Prakash C. (2010) "Status of the Contemporary Jain Community", Arhat Vachan 22(1 & 2): 71-83.
Jain, Prakash C. (2011a) "Exploring the Global Jain Diaspora", pp. 155-72, in N. Jayaram (ed) Diversities in the Indian Diaspora. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
