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15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
Ecology - The Jain Way
JAIN AWARENESS PRESENTED
Virchand Gandhi was in close contact with TO THE WEST
Mahatma Gandhi to whom he provided assistance Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh
in preparing legal briefs. pankaz_jainavrg@yahoo.com
Virchand Gandhi and Swami Vivekanand passed
away in 1901 and 1902 respectively. While Swami Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh is a Jain Vivekanand's work is well-known throughout the history researcher and a member world, little is known about Virchand Gandhi. of JAINA's Virchand Gandhi India
Pujya Shri Chitrabhanuji initiated the celebration Committee. He has been active in of Virchand Gandhi's Birth Centenary on August global Jainism-related projects and 25, 1964 in Fort, Mumbai. A statue of Virchand was presented with International Gandhi was erected at the Chowk in
Gandhi was erected at the Chowk in Mahua in Jain Asmita Award.
1993 and at the Jain Center of Metropolitan Chicago in 1995. The Ohio Historical Society presented a bronze plaque to the Jain Center of
Cincinnati/Dayton in 1994, to mark 100 years Following Acharya Vijayanandsuriji (Atmaramji since Virchand Gandhi's lecture in Cleveland on Muni) request, Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (1864
September 18, 1894. 1901), a young 29 year old barrister, participated in the first Parliament of World Religions in
JAINA established the Virchand Gandhi Chicago in 1893 as a Jain representative. Wearing
Scholarship Committee in 1997 to promote traditional turbans, Virchand Gandhi and Swami
research studies in Jainism and Virchand Gandhi's Vivekanand commanded great attention at the unpublished literature at recognized Congress and were successful in awakening the universities/institutions. Following the joint efforts western world to the spiritual heritage and rich
of JAINA and World Jain Confederation (WJC, history of India. Gandhi's speeches created great India), a highly-awaited postal stamp in Virchand impression upon the American people, and at
Gandhi's honor will be released by the Indian their request, he prolonged his stay for two years. Department of Post on August 25, 2009. JAINA He was re-invited to visit twice in 1897 and 1899.
and WJC are working jointly to raise funds to He delivered over 535 lectures in Chicago, Boston, convert Virchand Gandhi's ancestral home in New York, and Washington, as well as in England, Mahuva, Gujarat into a memorial which will house France, Germany and other European countries. VRG's historical material, and will include a
Museum of Jainism, a Lecture Hall, a Pathshala, Virchand Gandhi wrote many articles and books in
and a Library. Gujarati and English on topics of social and cultural reforms. He translated The Unknown Life
Donations, which will be duly recognized, are of Jesus Christ from French to English in 1894. His
being requested in three categories as follows: (1) legal successes include the abolition of poll tax on Grand Donor - US $5,000 (or equivalent) and Jain pilgrims at Shatrunjay-Palitana Tirth and
above; (2) Patron Donor - US $1,000 (or closing of a slaughterhouse near Sametshikhar equivalent) and above; (3) Donor - US $500 (or Tirth. As a true humanitarian, he sent 40,000 equivalent). Donations can be sent to Rita Sheth, Indian Rupees and a shipload of grains from the JAINA Treasurer, 5308 E 80th Place, Tulsa, OK United States to India during the worst famine of 74136, Tel: (918) 398-6024, 1896-97. As a reformer, he established the
treasurer@gmail.com or Pravin C. Shah, VRG Gandhi Philosophical Society, the Society for the
Committee Chair, 28 Dyckman, Garden City Park, Education of Women in India (SEWI), the School NY 11040, Tel: (516) 424-1523, of Oriental Philosophy, and the Jain Literature
pravincshah2k@yahoo.com. For further Society in London. As a national figure, he information, visit www.jaina.org/vrgcommittee/ attended the Indian National Congress held in Pune as the Representative of the then Bombay Province in 1895, and the International Conference of Commerce in London as an All-Asia sole delegate in 1899.
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