Conference on World Religions 1994 07 NY Queens

Author(s): Council for The Conference on World Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

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A Brief Summary of Life and Mission of
Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (August 25, 1864 to August 7, 1901)
It was the memorable day of September 11, 1893. The Columbus Hall of Art Institute of Chicago was overflowing with more than 3000 delegates of different nations and religions. It was the opening day of the Parliament of World Religions Conference, the first such conference ever organized in the history of mankind. The aim of the conference was to impart to the world, the knowledge of different religions, and to promote a feeling of fraternity between followers of diverse religious persuasion, and also to pave the way for world peace. The conference lasted 17 days.
Two young men among them with their Indian costume and turban drew special attention of the public one was the world famous Swami Vivekananda, who represented Hinduism and Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi who represented Jainism. They made such an impact at the Parliament of Religions with their impressive speeches and personality that both of them were requested to prolong their stay in the U.S.A. and continued to give speeches atdifferent cities after the conference was over.
Shri Virchand Gandhi, a young man of twenty-nine, impressed the delegates not only by his eloquence, but also by the sheer weight of his scholarship. The impartiality of outlook and the oratorical skill of this man fascinated the delegates at the conference. An American newspaper wrote, "of all Eastern scholars, it was this youth whose lecture on Jain faith and conduct was listened to with the interest engaging the greatest attention."
Shri Virchand R. Gandhi was born on the August 25, 1864 in Mahuva, near Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. After primary and secondary education at Bhavnagar, he joined Elphinstone College in Bombay. He graduated and took a B.A. degree with honors from the university of Bombay in 1884. He was probably the first graduate amongst the Jainas at that time. He was also a student of Buddhism and Vedanta Philosophy and also had knowledge of Yoga and Occultism. He had acquired knowledge of Christianity and Western philosophy. He also had made a comparative study of various philosophies which equipped him for talks on various subjects with confidence. He had the command of fourteen languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Bengali, English, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and French.
Shri Gandhi became the first honorary secretary of the Jain Association of India in 1885 at the age of 21. As a secretary he worked very hard for the abolition of poll-tax levied on pilgrims to Mt. Satrunjay, the most sacred place of Jain religion at Palitana, Gujarat, India. In those days to protest against the ruler was to invite severe punishment and even death. He prepared a case to compromise. He met Lord Ray, the governor of Bombay, and Colonel Watson, the political agent and made a strong representation
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