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
the first Hon. Secretary of the Jain Association of India in 1885. Unflinching Virchand Gandhi had settled pilgrimage tax dispute at Shree Palitana Jain Tirth and had legally succeeded in closing slaughter house from Jain community's holy shrine, Shree Sammet Shikhar Tirth by winning Piggery case.
Virchand Gandhi, during his preparation for solicitors' examination, as a friend used to help Mahatma Gandhi in understanding Study of Indian Law by telling him different Stories of Vakils and Stalwarts like Sir Pherozeshah and Badruddin Tyabji.(reference: Mahatma Gandhi's Autobiography, In Story of My Experiments with Truth, part2 , chapter III ) . Virchand Gandhi was admired many western scholars too. In West, VRG had explored different aspects of Jainism. In west also, he used to practice strict Jain code of conduct. Moncure Daniel Conway (1832-1907) a scholar, an American abolitionist, Unitarian clergyman had mentioned about VRG in his book 'My Pilgrimage to the Wise Men of the East' that he (VRG) shrank from even the smallest things that inclined towards self indulgence. He would not remain alone with a lady. VRG had also narrated Moncure Daniel Conway, A Jain Madhubindu Story and Jain Parable to explain him Jain philosophy & a Jain person's viewpoint towards life.
In may 1894, First American Congress of Liberal Religious Societies, was inaugurated in Emil Hirsch's Sinai Temple in Chicago with endorsements from Jain representative Virchand Gandhi & other representatives.
On 23rd Dec., 1894 at Typographical temple, VRG further explained on potencies of Mind & Matter as per Jainism & western concept behind same. Next day's Washington Times Newspaper had reported this lecture.
At Greenacres Conference held in 1894, VRG said: "... The Jain religion, more than any other, has propagated compassion and love for, and protection of, all life. It is a religion of conduct, of intelligence, and of the heart, or spiritual nature..."
From Open Court we learn that Virchand R. Gandhi had mentioned in his letter to Mrs Maude Howard of Chicago that he had attended the Religious Parliament in Ajmere, India and represented Jainism there.
On 21st March, 1895, under the auspices of the Harvard Religious Union VRG lectured on religion of India and same was primarily informed in The Harvard Crimson Daily of March 13, 1895.
Mark Twain and Virchand Gandhi, two historical Figures were together in Mumbai on 25 January, 1896, where Virchand Gandhi had invited him to show Byculla Jain Temples & to introduce him to Premchand Roychand, (Bombay & Calcutta Universities donor) and previously on another occasion Mark Twain's Newspaper Buffalo Express had covered Virchand Gandhi.
From M. E. CARTER's 'New Light of India', we learn that western people were not acquainted with the word Jainism. And it was only because of VRG they had the privilege to learn Philosophical, Scientific, Logical, psychological & religious aspects of Jainism. As
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