Anuvrat Movements Theory and Practical

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

Page 81

Tulsi's vows were focusing on issues of war and disarmament at the same time there
were vows related to social issues and environment. It seems he started his movement
with what were perhaps too many agendas for changing the society. What if he had either
focused on a single vow related to dowry, bribery or one category like social justice and
promoted it? If he had altered his strategy, could there have been more significant results
within these 60 years?
Responses from the Jain Diaspora
I had intended to further investigate to see whether the Anuvrat Movement has
secular characteristics, broad appeal, individual and social relevance among the Jain
diaspora. During my fieldwork in India, some respondents had pointed out to me that as
the Anuvrat Movement was meant for the Indian masses, they were not sure what
specific roles the Jains in the diaspora could play. I understood their perspective, but I felt
that as the Jains in the diaspora are not disconnected from their origins, why would it not
be possible for the movement to be relevant outside of India as well?
When Jains in the diaspora informed me that there was not sufficient knowledge
of the Anuvrat Movement among American Jains to persuade them to take the survey on
the movement, I decided to substitute a limited number of interviews. I started
interviewing among those Jains who do know the movement with the following
questions: How do they understand the Anuvrat Movement? Does the Jain immigrant
community in the United States, which is much less sectarian than Indian Jains, feel the
relevance of the movement against the global background of social, ethical and
environmental crises? Could the prescribed Anuvrat code of conduct apply in the same
way to their diasporic setting? Lastly, are there opportunities that come from an