Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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completely have analysis where we have used secondary sources, research by other scholars and our own views also.
This book is divided in five chapters followed by two long appendices.
Chapter 1: Sprouting of the Roots. This chapter analyzes the impact of the geography and demography of the place where he was born, his parents and experiences in the school. The geography and demography exhibits strong presence of Jainism in the peninsula of Porbandar in Kathiawad Gujarat where Gandhi was born. Jains particularly outnumbered Hindus in the Modh-bania community to which he belonged. His mother particularly was very religious displaying strong influences of Jainism; examples are fasting, his respect for even the minute form of living beings and Ahimsa, fasting and serving Jain monks like Becharji Swami and insistence on Gandhi to seek permission from Becharji Swami to go to England for studies. Some scholars, like Romain Ronald, even mentioned that his mother was a Jain even though Gandhi claims her to belong to Pranamik sect of Vaishnavas. Gandhi's father was an able administrator, religious, organising and attending religious pilgrimages as Porbandar was the gateway to Chardham (four abode) pilgrimage. Like his wife, he (Gandhi's father) was also an ardent practitioner of Ahimsa which is visible in his shedding tears on his sick bed reading the confession of stealing by Gandhi. Even others in the household, like his elder brother who was very affectionate and caring and the maid (Rambha) who taught the efficacy of repetitions of the name of God filled the domestic environment with religiosity. Similarly Jain values of pratikraman (confession and seek repentance/ punishment for the wrongs committed) and re-initiation after fall are visible all through his childhood where he experiments with bad habits but returns to the family and to spiritual values. Gandhi did not
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