________________
VIRCHAND GANDHI, AN EMISSARY TO THE WEST
India is the birthplace of many saints and several religions and its cultural diversity mosaic has established an image in the history as a great nation. These holy sages promoted their respective philosophies and congregations to enrich the heritage of the region. However, few spoke for "India" and very few went abroad to introduce or make others aware about its rich past history. Virchandbhai was a great exponent of Indian culture, a philosopher, a reformer, a Jain scholar and a patriot who made the country proud by revealing the true nature of religion, love, compassion, tolerance and Ahimsa (non-violence). He was the one who promoted Indian philosophies including Jainism in the Western world.
VRG was born on August 25 1864 in Mahuva, Gujarat, India. He did his schooling, securing first place in matriculation examination from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. While still a student, his parents got him married at the age of 16 and had one son named Mohanlal. He completed Bachelor of Arts with honors in 1884 from Bombay and got the honor of being the first Jain to graduate. In 1885, he joined as a law articled clerk in a solicitor's firm and became Barrister-at-law from London, England. The polyglot had good command over 14 languages including Prakrit, Sanskrit, Hindi, English and French besides his own mother tongue, Gujarati.
VRG had studied Vedanta Philosophy, Buddhism, Christianity, Western Philosophy and made comparative study of various philosophies, which equipped him for talks on various subjects with confidence. He had read western scholars on eastern philosophies that enabled him to present his views and talks on many subjects. He had a clear vision, unbiased approach and clarity in explanation. He corrected the false, twisted and perverse impression of India as being the land of Maharajahs, tigers, cobras and magicians. He defended Indian culture, Hindu religion under unjust criticism in the Parliament of World Religions and elsewhere.
Since becoming the founder secretary of the Jain Association of India (JAI) in 1885, VRG actively worked for social and cultural reforms. At that time the Jain community was having problems with government agencies at local, state and national administrative levels that he resolved successfully. In Palitana, in Gujarat, the Thakore (Collector) had levied a head tax on pilgrims visiting Shatrunjay Tirth. VRG made strenuous efforts to alleviate this hardship and brought a satisfactory settlement. Anandji Kalayanji Pedhi of Ahmedabad agreed to pay annually Rs. 15,000 for forty years to the Thakore and the tax was abolished. Makhshiji Tirth, another pilgrimage hill dispute was also brought to a satisfactory end by him in 1887.
Sametshikharji, the hill stands tallest in its physical attributes as well as in its Jain sacred spiritualism, because of the fact that this sacred hill in Eastern India, where 20 out of 24 Tirthankars (linas) attained salvation. Its sacredness is spared and spread even to the unruly animals that dwell there seemingly
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
Jain Education International
44
For Private & Personal Use Only
Prakash Mody Pravin C. Shah Mahesh Gandhi Raksha Shah
Prakash Mody: 4prakash@gmail.com
Authors Prakash Mody, Pravin C. Shah, Mahesh Gandhi and Raksha Shah are members of a committee for issue of a postal stamp in India in memory of Virchand Raghavji Gandhi.
They recommend JAINA member-centers to organize "Remembering Virchand program
during August
7 to 25, locally in a be fitting manner.
PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE
www.jainelibrary.org
