Historical Facts About Jainism

Author(s): Lala Lajpatrai
Publisher: Jain Associations of India Mumbai

Page 35

in calamities brought down upon him by the non-believers. He was prepared to die for his belief. He did not however think of killing or injuring the persons who inost cruelly maltreated him. You will thus see Ahimsa involves adamantine courage, capacity to bear infinite pain and misery and this has been to an extent understood and practised by Vahatma Gandhi. If proper and in partial consideration is given to the su bject. you will unhesitatingly revise your views on the great doctrine of Alinasa. Fiveu. as a political doctrine the best thinkers of the world praise the same as a sovereign remedy and it is especially so in India. Had the doctrine been understood in its full connotation and practised accordingly by the political followers of Mahatma Gandhi, there would have been astounding results. This is the reason why Mahatma Gandhi thinks that his movement would have been a complete success if the people had followed him implicitly and carried out luis plan courageously and unflinching!y. Now, that historic facts about Jain charity and humanity are before you, you will not liesitate to reniove the unbeconiing slur of cruelty to man cast on Jains. You will aiso do equal justice to Jainachara, which inakes man upright, honest and considerate but umflinching and strong. The Jains are also not backward in their service to the Motherland and the same can be ascertained by a reference to their part in the non-co-operation