Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

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

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Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, an Early Exponent of Jainism in West
Pankaz C. Hingarh - Mumbai Associate Editor: Jain Digest (A publication of Federation of Jain Associations in North America)
Co-founder of Theosophical Society, Henry Steel Olcott mentioned in his book 'Old Diary Leaves' that Virchand R Gandhi (a Jain representative) had also captivated western public in 1893's Parliament of World religions. Originally highly acclaimed Jain Monk Acharya Shree Vijayanandsurji alias Muni Atmaramji was invited to participate in 1893's Parliament of World religions. As he couldn't attend he trained & deputed his disciple Virchand R. Gandhi (25th August, 1864 - 7th August, 1901) to represent Jainism. Virchand Gandhi as a true patriot had defended Hinduism & Indian culture at parliament. As per Richard Hughes Seager's & J.H.Barrows book audience had applauded at VRG's patriotic speech & closing day speech.
Before VRG's representation many misconceptions used to prevail regarding Jainism among western people, like some considered it as an off shoot of Buddhism while some considered it as an offshoot of Vedic religion. Many even used to consider Lord Mahavira and other Tirthankars as mere mythological characters. It was VRG who had then clarified that Jainism was much older religion than Buddhism & an independent religion. As per 3rd Sept. 1893's The New York Times, VRG had explained to its reporters then that Jain community to which he belongs is oldest in the world.
After this event Virchand Gandhi was acknowledged as an interesting participant in 1893, World's Real Estate Congress also in 26th Oct. 1893's New York Times. He was sole Indian delegate to participate in 1899 in International Congress of Commerce in Philadelphia. He is credited for creating awareness about Jainism in west. He practiced Universal Brotherhood and advocated non-violence. He delivered as many as 535 mesmerizing lectures mainly in Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington in the USA, and England, France, Germany and other European countries. At all these places he was well listened, felicitated. He was widely covered by leading western newspapers, periodicals.
VRG was born in an aristocratic & virtuous Jain Family in Mahuva in Gujarat. And before his birth Jain Shashan Devi Padmavati had appeared in dreams of Raghavji Tejpalji Gandhi and had conveyed that his wife would be giving birth to a Jain Shashan Prabhavak son & a miraculous idol of Lord Parswanath would be discovered before his birth by them in their house. Idol was discovered & a baby boy was born. VRG graduated in BA with honors from Bombay's Elphinstone College in 1884. Virchand Gandhi was then a polyglot who knew 14 languages.
VRG had deeply studied Jainism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Western philosophies, Yoga, Indian economics, international trade, etc. and had turned as an exponent of Indian culture, religions. It is noteworthy that at the age of 21 VRG became
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