Gandhi And Jainism

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

Page 28

community are knit together by social ties. In North Gujarat, Kutch and Kathiawad, they even ate together and intermarried. The two traditions were so intermixed that one could not easily identify the differences between them unless carefully observed.
Thus Jainism was a dominant religion amongst the Modh-bania community in which Gandhi was born. Further the Vaishnavas were also open to develop their own hybrid spiritual values as can be seen by the existence of Vallabhacharya sect of his father's family (dominant amongst Hindubanias), which practised devotional philosophy, and the Pranami sect of his mother's family ("deriving the best of both the Quran and The Gita, in search of one goal - God."). Both these sects are home grown versions of Vaishanavism. Such hybrid sub groups continue to develop amongst Vaishnava banias even today like Dada Bhagwan.
Thus the area where Gandhi was born and grew up was inhabited by people practising almost all Indic religions and Islam, even though Jainism and Vaishnavism were the dominant religions practised by Modh-banias. This multi-faith environment exposed him to their ways of life and their practices from his childhood itself. This fact has been confirmed even by Gandhi himself?.
Family Roots and Parents' Lifestyle Gandhi was the youngest child of Karamchand (1822-1885) and his fourth wife, Putlibai (1839-1891). Karamchand had two daughters from his earlier marriages and three sons and a daughter from Putlibai. He was born on October 2, 1869. Karamchand, also known as Kaba Gandhi, and his grandfather, Uttamchand, served as chiefs (Diwans) of the states they lived in. They were known for upholding their moral values even when it caused personal hardship. His father served and excelled as Chief Minister of Porbandar State and Diwan of Rajkot and
Gandhi & Jainism
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