Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

Page 186

GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
"Armano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha'. In 1898 while people were leaving Calcutta in panic due to plague epidemic, Swami Vivekananda immediately started the relief work and he was so much moved at the suffering of people that when the funds were not forthcoming he even decided to sell the plot of land reserved for Belur Math which he was able to procure after a life-long struggle. The extreme step was however avoided by the intervention of the Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi Later some fund was received and the relief work continued. Shri Virchand Gandhi also had a compassionate heart, when he heard the news of severe drought of India in 1896 while he was in America, he at once established a Relief Committee under the Presidentship of Mr. C.C. Bonney the President of Parliament of Religions, himself being the secretary. He sent a shipload of food grains and Rs. 40,000/- in cash, as a relief measure, for the suffering people of India Education, and education alone is the panacea of all our evils - said Swami Vivekananda. He was one of the pioneers to champion the cause of education of women. Shri Virchand Gandhi also tried hard to spread higher education particularly in the Jain Community. With his efforts "International Society for the Education of Women in India' was established in America.
Indian Society was under the clutches of tyranny of priest craft and superstitions, when these two heroes of India sailed for America. Sea voyage in those days was considered unholy and both had to face stiff opposition from their own countrymen before going to America as well as after returning from there,
Swami Vivekananda used to address Shri Virchand Gandhi as "Oh my Dear Gandhi" in his letters. Both of them were good friends and admirers of each other. 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'. True to this proverb, both helped each other while they were put into difficulties by their own countrymen out of jealousy, Similarly, when Shri Virchand Gandhi was in difficulties, while his own people were trying to outcast him, Swami Vivekananda tried to defend him and sympathise with him. Swami Vivekananda wrote in November 1894 to Shri Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh for whom Swami Vivekananda cherished great love and respect and who was already known to Shri Virchand Gandhi..." Now here is Virchand Gandhi, the Jain whom you knew well in Bombay. This man never takes anything but mere vegetables even in this terribly cold climate and tooth and nail tries to defend his countrymen and religion. The people of this country like him very well. But what are they doing, who sent him over? They are trying to outcast him." AT this juncture while the World is celebrating the Centenary of Chicago Parliament of Religions, let us pay our special homage to those two great and worthy sons of Mother India-Two Heroes of Parliament of Religions. - Swami Nikhileshwarananda (1993)
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