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In August 1893 a young man, Virchand Raghavji Gandhi boarded the ship 'Assam' and sailed from the shores of India to the United State of America. He was going to participate as a Jain delegate in the first Parliament of the World's Religions held in Chicago from September 11 to 17 of that year.
He was accorded a warm reception and shown highest appreciation from clubs, literary and church, societies, philosophical branches and spiritual associations in USA. He impressed the American public about the Jain religion as a rational religion and speeches. received extensive publications in several leading news papers in USA. He corrected the false, twisted and perverse impression of India as being the land of Maharajahs, tigers and cobras.
Shri Virchand Gandhi stayed in USA for about two years and visited several cities. He returned to USA twice and in 1896 organised a ship load of grain and about Rs. 40,000 cash for famine relief in India. He also visited England, France, Germany and other places in Europe. Herbert Warren studied Jainism under Virchand Gandhi. He qualified as Barrister in London at one of the Inns of the Court.
Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi was born on August 25, 1864, at Mahuva, near Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. After primary and secondary education at Bhavnagar, he joined Elphinstone College in Bombay and graduated with honours. He mastered fourteen languages and at the age of 21 he became the first honorary secretary of the Jain Association of India.
Now in this year all the faiths of the world will celebrate Parliament of World Religions Centennial year. The Centennial Celebrations in Chicago will take place from 28th August to 4th September, 1993. At a joint meeting between Institute of Jainology, JAINA (Federation of the Jain Associations In North America) and Jain society of Metropolitan Chicago it was unanimously agreed
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