Anuvrat Movements Theory and Practical

Author(s): Shivani Bothra
Publisher: USA Florida International University

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understood righteousness in business as Tulsi's predominant concern. Hence, keeping the
business community in mind an individual who embodied this vow would not trade
stolen merchandise, use false weights and measures, adulterate or substitute their
products with inferior quality commodities, fail to pay the required taxes, or take bribes.
A number of informants quoted the example of a very famous, late Terapanthi lay
businessman, Sumer Mal Dugar. I was told that Acharya Tulsi himself quoted Dugar's
example to motivate the business community. I am recounting the following description
about him from the book titled, Ajaatshatru Ki Jeevan Gatha:
On October 20, 1969, Sumermal Dugar was awarded the title of Pramanik Shravak for his exemplary practices of keeping up with the Anuvrat vows. His example glorified the Anuvrat Movement. He and his family had been practicing Anuvratis. They did not purchase anything from the black market, did not hoard consumables, and did not steal electricity from the government supply, followed righteous behavior in business and trading activity. He declared all his possessions of silver and gold to the government in order to pay full taxes. 100
It makes some sense to understand why many of my respondents recalled this example.
However, from the date mentioned in the above quotation, it is likely possible that this
businessman was already practicing traditional Anuvrat vows. The question remains what
about the later generation business community? How does Tulsi's movement influence
them? I did not come across many such examples, old or new, during my research. It
seems the business community may be reluctant in accepting Tulsi's vows.
Expressing concerns over the business community, one nun responded: "The
main obstacle faced by the business community is the present bureaucratic system, as
Title given to a laity for integrity by Acharya Tulsi.
100 Acharya Mahapragya, Ajaatshatru Ki Gaatha (Jain Vishva Bharati, 1998), 32.
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