Essence of Jainism Part 01

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 9

conduct, means of knowledge and 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."
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As early as in the year 1893 Virchand Gandhi talked of the economic and political freedom of India. He said to the American people,
"India is at present under the foreign heel. She is independent in the field of religion but when India will be free, she will not invade any country in a violent manner."
Virchand Gandhi had a rare ability to see beyond the immediatoly visible world. He could see beyond this world, he could know the future. Even before the dawn of political independence, Virchand Gandhi had foreseen the proper role of India.
"It India becomes free, she will live in political co-operation with all countries". Five decades before the independence of India, Virchand Gandhi had the prophetic sense; he said in his lecture on 'The Jain Philosophy' - "You know my brothers and sisters, that we are not an independent nation. We are subjects of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria the 'defender of the faith', but if we are a nation in all that name implies with our own government and our own rulers, with our laws and institutions controlled by us free and independent, I affirm that we should seek to establish and for ever maintain peaceful relations with all the nations of the world."
Virchand Gandhi made such a great impact that the conveners and scholars of the conference of world religions awarded a silver medal to him. Subsequently on 8th August 1894 the citizens of Kasadova awarded a gold medal to him. In this city he delivered a lecture on 'Some mistakes corrected'. The newspaper, 'Buffalo Courier', records the immense success of the lecture. In America Virchand Gandhi founded two institutions namely, 'The Gandhi Philosophical Society' and 'The School of Oriental Philosophy'. In Chicago he founded the institution name 'Society for the Education of Women of India'. The secretary of this institution was Mrs. Howard who had adopted pure vegetarianism and other codes of conduct of Jainism under the influence of Virchand Gandhi. As sister Nivedita became Swami Vivekananda's disciple, so Mrs. Howard became Virchand Gandhi's disciple and like Jains she practised Samayika.