JAINA Convention 2005 07 JCNC

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 41

2005
vention of 2000 set a new record for JAINA. At this convention, Dr. Sulekh Jain was elected President of JAINA for a two-year term. Dr. Dulichand Jain of N.Y., editor of Jain Study Circular, was presented with a JAINA Award in recognition of his contribution to Jain religion in North America through his writings and scholarship. Later in that year, the Marriage Information Service (MIS) of JAINA was launched under leadership of Fakirchand Dalal of Latham, MD.
When Dr. Surendra K. Jain accepted the job of Editor of JAIN DIGEST late in 1989, he brought about major changes in the format. First he changed to a regular 8 By 1990, the 12" x 11" size. This immediately doubled the available space. Layouts and designs
JAINA library were computer set and graphics and photographs were added. In addition to general articles, five regular sections were introduced: national and international news, a was fully operaCalendar of Events, Education and Library, Marriage Information service and Youth Corner. A table of content was also added and larger, more readable font was used. tional with over An executive advisory board was setup and the inside cover started to list all the offi
4,000 DOORS IN cers of JAINA and member centers. New regular features also included extensive book reviews and letters to the editors. JAIN DIGEST today has essentially retained that format under the editorship of Ms. Lata Champsee. But now for the inside pages, colors and coated paper stock is used.
and Hindi. It By 1990, the JAINA library was fully operational with over 4,000 books in
was also the English, Gujarati and Hindi. It was also the year when two Samnijis, Smit Prajna and vear when two Akshya Prajna, made their first visits to the USA. They visited Jain centers in New Jersey, Toronto, Raleigh, Atlanta and New York. At each center they gave a brief Samnijis, Smit introduction to Preksha Dhyan and lectured on the principles of Jainism. That year Dr. Nathmal Tatia, Director of Jain Viswa Bharati in Ladnun was a visiting Professor
Prajna and at Harvard for the study of world Religions. Dr. Tatia was invited by many Jain cen- Akshya Prajna, ters to speak. That same year the Jain Center of Boston began the task of revising the North American Jain Directory.
made their first In October 1990, a delegation of nine prominent Jains lead by President Sulekh Visits to the USA Jain, representing various Jain centers in USA and Canada joined other Jain leaders from U.K., France, Belgium, India, Kenya and Singapore on a visit to the Buckingham Palace to meet with H.R.H. Prince Phillip. They discussed the Jain Declaration on Nature written by Dr. L. M. Singhavi. The meeting opened with recitals of the Namokar Mantra. This was probably the first time that this occurred at the palace and ended with Khame Mi Savva Jiva. After a lengthy exchange of views, Prince Phillip showed appreciation for the Jain Community's efforts and our stand on nature and preservation of the environment. A Jain Sacred Literature Trust was formed as part of International sacred Literature Trust, which is being supported by H.R.H. Prince Phillip. This international gathering of Jains was well received and given a civic reception by the Lady and Lord Mayor of the city of Leicester. The entire
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