ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 496

some movable and immovable property should be occurred to the Sabha with legal authority over the property (Constitution Of D.B.J.S., 1907.1963, 1982). After three years of it's establishment D.B.J.S. started a Jain Boarding House (1902) at Kolhapur followed by a series of boarding houses in Maharashtra and Karnataka in 20h Century.
5. CHH. SHAHU MAHARAJ AND ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARDING HOUSES AT KOLHAPUR: Chh. Shahu (1894-1922) ruler of Kolhapur Princely State started Hostel Movement which was a unique phenomenon in the State for the upliftment of the masses. Of the various successful measures adopted by him for development of education, Hostel movement was a remarkable feature of his educational policy. On one occasion Chh. Shahu himself stated with pride that." With a just sense of pride the British people called the British Parliament the Mother of Parliaments. In the same way Kolhapur has, I venture to say, deservedly come to be called the 'Mother of Students Boarding Houses. There are Boarding Houses of Marathas, Jains, Lingayats, Saraswatas, Mohamedans, Daivadnya, Panchal, Simpi, Kayasthas etc. (Yedekar: 1972, P: 51). In this way some 23 Hostels came up in Kolhapur for the various castes from 1901 to1921 (Khane: 1978: 82-202).
As a part of his Hostel Movement Shri. Shahu Maharaj also helped in the establishment of Jain Boarding House at Kolhapur under the leadership of Shri Latthe (1878-1950). He was an eminent educationist-cum-social reformer among Jains and worked for the benefit of Jain Students and community taking inspirations and ideas from Kolhapur Hostel Movement (Patil: 1986: 429). 5. BOARDING HOUSES: AN INSTRUMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND SOCIO
CULTURAL CHANGE:
It is to the credit of D.B.J.S. that by establishing hostels for boys and Shravikashrams for girls Sabha brought about an educational revolution in the Jain Community. Annasaheb Latthe inspired Jain social workers for this purpose. The various Boarding Houses, started by D.B.J.S., in today's Maharashtra and Karnataka states are as follows: (Patil: 2006: 117-180)
a. Boarding Houses for Boys
Digambar Jain boarding house Kolhapur 1902 Digambar Jain boarding house , huble 1909 Manikbag Digamber Jain Boarding, Belgaum(1915) R.D.Davda Digambar Jain Boarding house, Sangli (1922) Jain Boarding House , Inchalkarnaji (1986) Digambar Jain boarding house Beed. 1997 S.S. Bhirdi Jain Boading house, Jaysingapur.(1996-1998) Devrukh Jain Boarding house , Devrukh (1982-83) P.P.Aryanandi Maharaj Brahmacharyashram Kesapuri, (1997)
b. JAIN BOARDING OF KOLHAPUR (1902) The Jain Boarding house at Kolhapur, was established in April 1902, but there were no hostel buildings for students; so they stayed in a Jain temple which was not at all suitable for the purpose (R.A.K.S.: 1895-1906: p-57). In 1904, Chh. Shahu paid visit to Hirachand Gumanji, Jain Barding of Bomaby. He suggested to Manikchand. Seth that the Jain community, was quite large in Kolhpaur state but it was backward, in education, and therefore, to enable the Jains to receive higher education he (Seth Manikchand) should construct one boarding house at Kolhapur, and offered necessary help to them from his side (P & J 30th Dec. 1963; Sangave : 1976 :73). This incident greatly inspired the students like Latthe and Chougule studying in the hostel. They took active part in the establishment of Jain Boarding at Kolhapur.
Shri Latthe and Nitve Shastri wrote a letter to Sheth Manikachand Hirachand Javeri, reminding him of Chh.Shahu's request and urging on him to visit Kolhapur. Sheth visited Kolhapur towards the end of year the 1904, and come close contact with Chh. Shahu and workers of D.M.J.S. He promised them to construct a building suitable for 100 students. Chh. Shahu donated the Chouphala Mal' (Place of Nishidis of Jain Sadhus) for construction of building for Jain Boarding.
The Inauguration ceremony of the building was held on 9th August, 1905, at the hands of Chh. Shahu Maharaj. On this occasion Mr. Latthe, the Minister of Education Dept. of D.M.J.S. while stating importance of the Jain Boarding said, "Till now the Jains have constructed many buildings and temples all over the country. But at this place, that is, the Hostel building, the minds of our young men will be prepared to experience human greatness taught by the Jain religion; from the place, will go out promising doctors, lawyers, engineers, and statesmen and also efficient merchants, diligent farmers. We have every hope that thro' their efforts, we will bring back the golden days of our ancient past" (Sangave :1976 :98-105). Chh. Shahu gave an inaugural address and said, "I listened with great attention to your interesting address and felt particularly gratified by your remark that from here we might send forth not only promising
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