Conference on World Religions 1994 07 NY Queens

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

Page 39

An American gentleman gave his opinion about Virchand Gandhi in these words: "In this religious gathering a number of philosophers, preachers, and scholars came from India and delivered lectures and each one of them presented a new element so as to convince that their religion ranks high with great religions of the world. Moreover their oratory and devotion presented distinct types and were full of wisdom and contemplation. Among them was an outstanding young man of Jain religion who gave new ideas about morality and philosophy. Though he is only a house-holder and not a monk or religious preacher, he can expound so well. Who must then be his Guru His simple but striking philosophy of life is worth knowing, worth understanding."
His lectures demonstrated the fact that the study of Sanskrit and Prakrit languages alone is not enough for a proper understanding and exposition of Indian philosophy. It is absolutely necessary to assimilate and to understand India's past culture in its proper context.
Shri Virchand Gandhi was a great exponent of Indian culture and religion, besides being a brilliant scholar of Jainism. His speeches at the parliament echoed the true spirit and culture of India. There prevailed in America the belief that India was a country of tigers, serpents, magicians, and kings. Christian missionaries also presented a distorted picture of the people of India. Virchand Gandhi made a great effort as Swami Vivekananda did to give to the people abroad the true perspective on India. Explaining the importance of Indian culture to foreigners, he said, "It is an astonishing fact that foreigners have been constantly attacking India and in the face of all those aggressions the soul of India has stood vital and watchful. Her conduct and religion are safe and the whole world looks at India with a steady gaze." He also added that "cultural distinctions, agriculture, art, artistic skill, literature, good conduct, means of knowledge, science, hospitality, feminism, love, and respect - all these are found in India in quite a different form. If that culture was purchasable, England could have purchased it, adopted it. But it has not happened, it cannot happen."
Shri Virchand Gandhi was not a dogmatic person. He spoke as a Jain but he forcefully defended Hinduism from the attack of Westerners at the Parliament. Above all, he was first Indian then Jain.
Virchand Gandhi was not only a philosophical thinker but he also had the welfare of the nation at heart. He collected a shipload of grain and about Rs. 40,000 cash for famine relief in India in 1896 while he was in the U.S.A.
In America Virchand Gandhi founded various societies, such as, The Gandhi Philosophical Society, The School of Oriental Philosophy, and The Society for the Education of Women of India. The secretary of the later institution was Mrs. Howard who had adopted pure vegetarianism, practiced Samayik daily, and other codes of conduct of Jainism. In England he founded the Jain Literature Society and taught Jainism there. Mr. Herbert Warren, a religious enthusiast, abandoned non-vegetarianism and adopted the Jain religion. He summarized Virchand Gandhi's lectures and published a book known as 'Herbert Warren's Jainism.'
Compiled by Pravin K. Shah 37