Gandhi Before Gandhi

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

Page 19

A GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
Statistics of Speeches at 1st Parliaments of World Religions- Chicago 1893
Attended by about 7000 people, though it was a gathering of various religions it had distinct purpose of spreading the message of Jesus Christ. However, scholarly presentation of other faith leaders implanted the seeds of International Interfaith Dialogue
Buddhism
Statistically speaking, the Parliament was dominated by English-speaking Christian representatives, who delivered 153 of 194 papers. The opportunity for the leaders from other religious traditions was limited but significant, 12 speakers represented Buddhism, 11 Judaism, 8 Hinduism, 2 Islam, 2 Parsis religion, 2 Shintoism, 2 Confucianism, 1 Taoism and 1 Jainism. Among them, Swami Vivekananda's three speeches undoubtedly drew most attention from the American public. Barrows recorded that when Vivekananda addressed the audience as "Sisters and Brothers of America," they went into rapture with "a peal of applause that lasted for several minutes.
Islam
Hinduism
Judism
Tam
Major Religions Represented in 1893
Puritan
Confucianism
Catholic
Shinto
Zorastrian
In spite of varied responses, the 1893 Parliament had to be recognized as a great achievement within the modern civilization in general and the Western American culture in particular. As Marcus Braybrooke said, "it remains a remarkable pioneer event, and no subsequent inter-faith gathering has come near to it in size or complexity". The glory of the parliament was most obvious in the opening ceremony, on September 11, 1893. More than four thousand people had gathered in the Hall of Columbus, when at ten o'clock a dozen of representatives from different faiths marched into the hall, hand in hand. At the same time, the Columbian Liberty bell in the Court of Honor tolled ten times, honoring the ten great world religions- Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Puritan, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The inaugural ceremony began with an act of common worship to Almighty God,"
"One of its chief advantages has been in the great lesson which it as taught the Christian world, especially to the people of the United States namely, that there are other religions more venerable than Christianity, which surpass it in philosophical depth, in spiritual intensity, in independent vigour of the thoughts, and in breadth and sincerity of human sympathy, yielding to it a single hair's breadth in ethical beauty and efficiency."
- Hon'ble Mame Marium Marie Snell, Head of Scientific Section of the Parliament.