Gandhi Before Gandhi

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

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GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
hese are the words of Mr. Virchand Gandhi, a Gandhi born about five years before Mahatma
Gandhi. There are many historical figures prior to Mahatma Gandhi, who made great contributions as perfect patriots and strong defenders of Indian religion, culture and civilization. All these when he was just 29 years old. Many have been justly recognised, some are over recognised while some are hardly noticed. Virchand Gandhi is one of those who is hardly recognised or may be called the unsung hero of our country. When we read about 535 speeches and writings of Mr. Virchand Gandhi, we were not only amazed but also bound to realise that his life was as pious as Mahatma Gandhi's was, his knowledge and subject contents were as great as those of Vivekanand, who also was one of the delegates representing Hinduism at the Parliament of World Religion, Chicago 1893.
Purpose of this book is to recognise this legendary personality of India and Jain Community.
Awidely published news bulletin of USA, 'Buffalo Courier' dated 10th Aug 1894, wrote thus:
irchand R. Gandhi, the Jain Hindu of Bombay, has been accorded the greatest ovation ever granted to a speaker at Cassadaga on Saturday afternoon when he stepped forward in his silken robe of royal purple and golden colored turban and sash, the auditorium fairly rang with applause, and when he finished his speech which, was announced as "Some Mistakes Corrected", he was recalled again and again. GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI IS
VIRCHAND RAGHAVJI GANDHI