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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live
JAINA AWARDS 2011
JAINA RATNA AWARD
Girishbhai has been active in Jain community (local and at national level) for last 30 years. Girishbhai has been a founding member of Jain Center of Northern California (JCNC) as its first VP and has served as its President, Board member, Committee Chair, over the years. Girishbhai has been a founding member of JAINA (first Treasurer/Secretary) and has held several committee chair positions as well as CoConvener of 13th Biennial JAINA Convention and Co-Chair of 6th Biennial JAINA Convention.
Girish Shah
The Jain unity has been an overarching theme through out last 30 years. Girishbhai San Francisco, CA got involved with community organizations to promote this theme. At JCNC,
Girishbhai worked with all traditions to create a uniquely integrated Jain temple in the Bay Area. Similarly, he worked with Jain leaders to promote non-sectarian structure for Jain organizations in North America. Through out these years, Girishbhai worked with different JAINA Presidents to create and maintain Jain unity.
Girishbhai has served many different local organizations including El Camino Hospital Foundation, South Asian Heart Center (founding member), Alum Rock Counseling Center, Carry The Vision Nonviolence Conference, Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (founding Treasurer), Community Foundation Silicon Valley Real Estate Advisory Board (founding member), Federation of Indo-American Associations, Gujarati Cultural Association, Asian American Democratic Caucus, Associations of Indians in America, Goodwill Industries of SF, etc.
Since 2006, Girishbhai has been active with the Interfaith activities in the Bay Area organizing Interfaith conferences, working on Interfaith Committees, sponsoring conferences on nonviolence, etc. At present, he is the Treasurer of Silicon Valley Interreligious Council and Board member of Carry The Vision Community Non-Violence Conference. His efforts have resulted in the recognition of the Jain Community in the Interfaith circles and many organizations have visited Jain Center. He attended Parliament of World's Religion in Mebourne, Australia in 2009 representing the Partner City Team from the Silicon Valley. San Jose Police department has produced a video on Jain Community and Jain principles to make n Police Officers aware of the Jains. He regularly makes presentation on Jain philosophy to Interfaith groups and College students visitng Jain Center.
In 2009, Girishbhai was asked by Pu. Namra Muni Maharaj Saheb to manage the printing of the second edition of the Jain Agams (32 Aagams were translated in Gujarati by the Sadhvis of the Gondal Sthankwasi Sampraday). Girishbhai devoted six months in India to get the Aagms edited and printed. He also created soft copies of these Aagam books which are now available on the Internet. The translation of the Aagams in English is being organized.
Girishbhai retired from IBM in 2004 and has devoted full time to community service with many of the above organizations.
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