Comtemporary Jain Legends

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

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or chappals. There were always religious scriptures in his room. He had fixed this rule so that there may not be disrespect to Jain books, Jain pictures etc. One day a Muslim student entered his room with chappals even though Jugalkishore stopped him to do so. Jugalkishore was brave. He pushed him out forcibly. This student, then, complained of Jugalkishore to the Head Teacher who took the side of mohmedan student and inflicted fine of some rupees to Jugalkishore. Jugalkishore could not tolerate such an insult of his self-respect and he left the school. He passed standard ten by receiving private teaching. This incident reflects upon the nature of young Jugalkishore. He always insisted for good behavior, truth, certain principles and above all self-respect. He was inspired to launch nonviolent resistance to establish truth in all walks of life. He decided to defend Jainism at all costs. Initial articles of literature written by Jugalkishore in his young age are not available to day but his one creation published in Jain Gazette of 8 May 1896 is available. It appears from this article that Shri Jugalkishore had internal inspiration for writing right since his childhood and he knew from this intuition for writing right since his childhood and he knew from this intuition that the causes of India's illuck are lack of learning, unity and disrespect for the advice of saints and learned persons. He saw that until these causes are not eradicate, India will not be able to achieve freedom and secure satisfactory progress in science and knowledge arts. In one of his creations, he has written that in old ages, India was holding the place of world-teacher but she has lost this place because of her ignorance and lack of unity. He advised the youth that they should unite and work hard with determination to bring back India on the place where the whole world will look at her with hopes.
A Turn in Life: Jugalkishore turned to poetry and essays because of an incident of 1843. When he was studying in standard five, there was an occasion of celebrations in his home and many ladies had met together to sing songs to welcome this occasion. The ladies were singing songs in unbecoming language and the young Jugalkishore did not like it. He atonce asked the ladies to stop singing such songs in ungrateful words and phrases. He desired that the songs should reveal the ideals and aspirations of ancient Indian culture and atonce wrote a beautiful song to suit the occasion and reflect the holy ideal of scriptures and culture. He did not write the song to elevate his pride but to eliminate absurdity from the songs sung by the common women of the day as it was due to sheer ignorance of ideals and intentions. He used his skill only to wipe out unholiness from the present day songs. With this incident, Jugalkishore was encouraged to write more and more songs and his literary ability took an active form, which was in dormant condition up to now. Jugalkishore was taught up Urdu and Persian and he was brought up also in such atmosphere as would encourage the feelings in this literature but he could see from his intuition that the immortal wealth of Indian culture cannot be properly made out in these languages and Hindi was more suitable language for this purpose. He, therefore, turned to Hindi and wrote many essays, poems, critical notes and other literary writings in Hindi.
Life-A Battle: Earning Money: As Shri Jugalkishore was now married, he thought that he should himself maintain his family. He had full faith that he must live vigorously to make his life meaningful and hence he started to work, as a preacher-lecturer in Mumbai Provincial Conference as this type of work was suitable to his nature. He also wanted to awaken the society by such activities. He was getting good salary for this work from the conference. This work was started in November 1899 but he worked for only one month and 14 days as a preacher because he did not like to receive any remuneration for doing the activities of expansion of religious thoughts. He wanted to do this work without receiving any salary and then he began his services for literature and religion without monetary returns.
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