Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

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CONTRIBUTIONS OF NRI'S TO JAIN SHASHAN
DILIP V. SHAH (PHILADELPHIA)
FORMER PRESIDENT JAINA U.S.A
There are nearly 250,000 Jains living outside India in more than 36 countries. However, most significant Jain population is in North America (USA and Canada), UK, Africa, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Antwerp and Gulf Countries. It is estimated that almost 125,000 of the Jains living outside of India are in USA and Canada.
The migration of Jains in any significant number started about hundred years ago. It started with many HalariVishaOshwals going to Kenya and other African countries for trade. Over the years many of them, as they acquired British passport, moved to UK. Today there are about 25,000 Jains in Kenya and 40,000 Jains in the UK. Vast majority of Jains in the UK are Halaris that came via Kenya. Another wave of migration of Jains from India started in 1960's. These were young students going abroad - mostly to the US - for higher studies in science, engineering and medicine. Many of them graduated and settled in the US. This was the beginning of what later became bitterly known as "Brain Drain" of India.
The old and the new emigrant Jains, though in a very small numbers in the countries they settled, generally prospered. Their entrepreneur nature and hunger for education has served them well. In their desire to protect, preserve and propagate their precious Jain heritage in their adopted lands, they have built temples and other institutions. This paper will examine the degree to which they have succeeded in the communities they live in and impact their efforts have had onJain hahshan.
The significant activities and achievements of the NRI Jains in North America and Europe centered around and focused along the following goals or objectives;
1. Unite all Jains as Jains on one common platform; This goal was achieved via creation of JAINA, its biennial convention (a show case of the Jain community), Jain Digest magazine, JAINA annual calendar, building of temples and places of Worship to recognize all sects and traditions, organizing pilgrimages to our tirthdhams in India, develop and publication of North American Jain directory and linkages and bonds with Jains in Europe, Africa and India.
2. Connect with, involve, energize and train Jain youths; this was achieved by creating functional youth organizations such as YJP &YJA (in North America), Young Jains of U.K and Young Jains of Kenya, YJP, YJA biennial convention, Matrimonial Services forum, and JAINA interns program.
3. Impart knowledge and education about Jain Dharma. This was accomplished via regular Jain pathshalas (at each temple), training of pathshala teachers, creation and publication of new custom designed and written books for pathshalas, JAINA libraries, scholar visitation programs, publication of many articles and books, working with many universities to establish
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