Book Title: Charity Saint Shri Meghjibhai Pethraj
Author(s): Atmanandji
Publisher: Z_Comtemporary_Jain_Legends_007736_STD.pdf

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________________ Shri Meghjibhai many times told, the wealth became of no value if it was kept in safes, it reduced itself. Even the piety of the man who collected if became exhausted. He believed that by charity, man does not become entitled to piety. He must take active part in the works of service to the people. Meghjibhai now left his world of business activities and turned towards the good deeds of charity. He started helping in social services regularly in 1936. There was severe draught in Saurashtra and a committee was established in Africa to render help to draught-victims. Shri Meghjibhai was the president of this committee, which collected a large fund. Meghjibhai was Jain by religion but he was secular by nature. He wanted that all sects of Jains should meet together and strengthen their unity but he could not accomplish this task. He established for Oshwal community of Jains, One boarding house at Jamnagar, a Girls' school at Nairobi, and a lecture hall at Thika. In these acts, he was much, attached to Religion rather the caste and creed. He said, "The mankind needs the preachings of non-violence and detachment of Jainism, and it needs it most in these days". He said that Jainism was capable of being world religion and he sincerely believed in it. He presented his thoughts at the twentieth Jain Shwetambar Conference held at Mumbai in 1957. A large wave of his charity began in 1944 when he retired from business. He had made many donations even before this. He believed that he should not spend his energy in making small donations. He was more interested in creating a new institute or new management by granting large donation under a well-prepared plan. He did not believe in making charity to earn honors or fame. He never made charity in such a way that the person or institution receiving charity might feel it insultive or embarrassive. He was interested in making charity to the people with whom he lived and where he was brought up. He was inclined to make donations for educational purposes and medical relies. He wanted to see Saurashtra educational purposes and medical reliefs. He wanted to see Saurashtra came out of its backwardness after we got independence in 1947. He did not like to give direct donations in Government plans. He first saw that the plan was duly implemented and then he would donate for its proper working. He also preferred to create institutions as per his own plans and then hand them over tot he Government for its proper administration. Where there was contribution of both the Government and the people, he would donate very freely. He used to decide on great donations very shortly and yet after deep thinking. He used to come to his native village very often. He had good acquaintenance with Shri Dhebarbhai, chief minister of Saurashtra in those days. He had agreed to give donation of rupees sixty lacs for establishing medical college at Jamnagar within a short discussion of one hour. There was not a single day in the years around 1954 on which the news of laying foundation stone in one or the other village of Saurashtra for same new institution with the help of Shri Meghjibhai's donation did not appear in the news. He gave good donations for starting primary schools, for preparing buildings for schools, for establishing technical schools and boarding houses for the students of backward class, for maternity homes, hospitals, town halls, women development institutions, children homes, leprosy hospital, reading rooms, nursing training college, orphanage, sanatorium, blind school, old men's' homes, Jain temples, Derasar (places of worship and meditation) boarding house, colleges for arts and science, law and commerce colleges, technical colleges, TB Hospital etc. Once Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru came to his house. Meghjibhai gave him a cover. Panditji thought that there would be a memorandum of complaints or a proposal. When he opened the cover, he saw that it contained a Cheque of rupees one lac for establishing Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital. 165

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