Book Title: Comtemporary Jain Legends
Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

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Page 110
________________ Service to Society and Convocation: He had decided to be in the service of the society from his childhood. He always completed the work taken in hand by own efforts. He called on others and involved in these tasks in such a way that evens the difficult was done easily. He expanded education, eradicated evil practices, wiped out differences and conflicts, established unity and co-operation, helped the poor through various institutions, attended annual functions and other meetings and guided the old and new generations for the good of all. He was loved and welcomed everywhere. The following are the main institutions established by him: - • Syadvad Vidyalaya, Benaras - a religious school • Shri Hrushabh Brahmcharyashram, Hastinapur - a boarding house for mendicants. Jain Shravkika Shram, Bombay - a boarding house for nuns. • Jain Bala Ashram, Aara - a boarding house for girls. • Shri Jain Vyaparik Vidyalaya, Delhi - a commercial school. All these and many of his services to the society were appreciated and he was awarded the title of Jain Dharm Bhushan an February 28, 1913 at the Conference held at Benaras under the Presidentship of Dr. Harman Jakobi. This was a very great honor to him. The great Guru-teacher Shri Gopaldasji Baraiya had also given him great honor in this big conference. Maharaj Shri, however, did not disclose any of these honors in his periodicals. What a surprising detachment towards worldly honors! In spite of all these praise-worthy works of Maharaj Shree, he had many rivals and they did not spare him from various types of harassment. These rivals were displeased of his reformative practices and attitude, which were supported by the Jain scriptures and saints also. These rivals had, however, repented for their misdeeds of troubling such a saint as Maharaj Shri. Last Days: At the age of 62 he had the disease of trembling. He was taken to Mumbai, Delhi, Rohtak and other places for treatment but there was no recovery. This trouble developed into paralysis and expanded to various parts of his body. He was, then, unable to move out. Babu Ajitprasad Vakil took over responsibility for his service and shifted him to his Ajita Shram at Lucknow. With the increasing trouble of the disease, he, one day, fell down on January 6th 42 and there was fracture in the bone below his waist. His health worsened day by day thenafter and at last he breathed his last at 4-00 hours morning on February 16th 1942. A great personality left the mortal body and went on for eternal peace. Conclusion: Shri Sheetalprasadji had adopted celibacy from his very young age and dedicated himself for the service of the people and religion. He tried hard for the development of women, children and young men. He exhausted his whole life for Jain periodicals, Jain art, Jain literature, Jain scriptures and Jain education. He served the society for more than four decades forgetting his own interests. It was difficult to find such a dedicated saint in those days but the people of the day did not know him in time and caused loss to themselves. They lost the opportunity of creating strong and united Jain Samaj with the guidance of this Samant Bhadra of the present age. The learned and the rich could not recognize his ability because of idleness, internal conflicts and lack of foresightedness. As a result, all round development of Jainism and Jain community in independent India of 20th century could not be achieved as it could have been expected. This is a painful fact. In the celebration of his centenary, one conference was arranged at Indore in the company and under the guidance of Elacharya Shri 110

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