Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

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

Page 60

THE MAKING OF JAINA
Mahendra Khandhar
Shortly after the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) was founded on 15 September, 1979, the organization's visionary Vice President, Lalit Shah, proposed an unprecedented idea: To establish an umbrella organization in North America which would represent all Jain communities in the United States and Canada.
This revolutionary idea was discussed in the JCSC Executive Committee and with community members. All were convinced that the idea was worth pursuing. A task force was created to develop and discuss the concept with community and spiritual leaders of various centers. At the time, Jain Centers had been established in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago and also included Pujya Gurudev Chitrabhanuji's Center (JMIC) and Pujya Acharya Sushil Muniji's Mission (IMJM). Jain organizations were also in various stages of formation at several locations, including San Francisco, Cleveland, Toronto, Washington DC, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, and others. All of these centers were trying to develop their own organizational structure without the benefit of uniform and structured guidelines.
The concept of forming a central Jain organization was thus pursued at four different levels:
First: Speaking to the two Jain spiritual leaders in the United States - Pujya Acharya Shri Sushilkumarji and Pujya Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji - who gave their blessings to the idea. Second: Consulting Jain leaders in academia, such as Prof. Padmanabh Jaini (Professor of Buddhism and Oriental Studies at UC Berkeley) and Prof. Jagdish Prasad Sharma (Professor of Ancient Indian History at the Univ. of Hawaii in Honolulu). They were very enthusiastic and supported the idea of a Jain Federation. Third: Discussing with leaders of various Jain communities in North America, including those from Boston, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Rochester, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco and Toronto. They all contributed ideas and assisted in various ways. Fourth: Presenting the concept to the various local Jain community leaders and members who also wholeheartedly supported the endeavor.
The information and ideas which emerged while discussing the concept with the various communities and leaders were presented to the JCSC Executive Committee, who agreed to assume a position of leadership and move forward with the idea. By mid-1980, the Committee decided to proceed by convening a Founding Convention, to which all Jain organizations in the United States and Canada would be invited. Ultimately, if a majority of attending delegates agreed during the plenary session, the Committee would proceed with the formation of a Jain Federation.
The Convention Committee immediately began to prepare for this unprecedented event. The Committee consulted with spiritual, academic and Jain community leaders. After presenting various ideas to the general body and the Executive Committee, the final details were determined: Thousands of Jains were to be invited to the first ever pan North American Jain meeting in Los Angeles in May 1981.
Being a part of the JCYC Committee has allowed me to see what it is like to work with other people before I experience it in the real world.
Saahil Jain, 15