Jain Center Los Angeles CA 1998 07 10th Anniversary of Jain Bhavan

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 109

Jain Associations in North America (JAINA)
Jain Center of Southern California was the main force behind bringing all Jains together in North America and made possible the formation of JAINA. The hard work and dialog with all the-then established Jain Centers continued for almost a year and culminated in the first ever and formative convention of JAINA in Los Angeles in 1981.
This was possible because of blessings of Acharya Sushil Muniji & Gurudev Chitrabhanuji, guidance from Prof. Padmanabh Jaini, enthusiastic support of our members, and spirit of cooperation by all Jain Societies/Centers.
About 15 organizations across North America participated in the formation of the federation, although not all could attend the first convention hosted by our Jain Center in Los Angeles. The constitution was adopted with the objectives and working of the management. It was decided to hold biennial convention with the election of the new committee. Our then-VP Lalit C. Shah was elected as the First President. The name of the organization was agreed to be Federation of Jain Associations in North America or JAINA in short.
The 9th (most recent) JAINA convention with Dr. Manibhai Mehta of our Jain Center as JAINA president was held in Toronto in 1997 and was attended by over 7000 members. All across North America Jains are getting together and keeping their identity and teaching main principles of Jainism - Ahimsa, Anekantvad and being vegetarian. JAINA has done humanitarian and social work in India and other countries. The educational activities of JAINA are helping all Jain Centers to provide material for classes and help in setting the curriculum.
The JAINA library with over 8000 books and many Audio / Video cassettes will move to Los Angeles in late 1998.
It is gratifying that because of hard work and dedication of the successive Committees, and Administrations, today JAINA has grown to about 54 member Societies/Centers with international stature, excellent link with India, humanitarian activities, children's education and progressively successful geographically dispersed nine biennial conventions.
A classroom is where everyone learns, the student and the teacher
- Kaanan Shah (12)
Jain Education Intemational