Jain Digest 1993 01 Vol 20 No 01

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 8

tion was held on Dec. 13, 1992. President - Pravin Shah; Vice President/ Treasurer - Jagdish Shah; SecretaryKamlesh Shah; Member - Nisha Padia, Ramesh Fofaria.
The Jain Study Center's permanent address is changed to: Jain Study Center of North Carolina (Raleigh), 401 Farmstead Dr., Cary, NC 27515-6531. Tel./Fax: (919) 469-0956; Hindu/Jain Temple: (919) 481-2574; Jain Bulletin Board: (919) 469-0207
Ahimsa Day was observed on Oct. 4, 1992 by distributing food and clothing to the needy and homeless people in the area.
Jain Camp was organized from Oct. 9, 1992 through Oct. 11, 1992 at Umstead Park, Raleigh, NC. About 70 people attended the camp. Jain religious discourses, meditation, entertainment and games were features of the camp.
Commemorative Postal Stamp for Virchand R. Gandhi
Federation of JAINA, Institute of Jainology (U.K.) and many Jain organizations in India and overseas have written to the Indian Post & Telegraph Board to issue a commemorative postal stamp to honor a renowned Jain scholar, Virchand R. Gandhi, who in 1893 (100 years ago) came to Chicago to attend the first Parliament of World's Religions. This is being followed in Delhi by Sahu Rajiv P. Jain who is actively engaged in JAINA activities as our liaison. JAINA is indeed highly grateful to him.
News Update...
Jains now have a computer bulletin board system that will promote the Jain religion education among youths and adults in North America. See page 11 for details.
Jain Digest
JAINA'S Constitution. Amended
After extensive debate and hard work on the part of the constitution committee, the amended constitution of JAINA has been approved by affirmative vote by its directors. More than forty Jain center/societies and about fifty directors have voted to approve the constitution which was recommended by the Constitution and Executive Committees of JAINA. Under the new constitution, North America has been divided into six regions, and each region should have the opportunity to elect one Vice President. The new constitution also has ByLaws which provide clear directions as how to conduct certain business of JAINA.
As a part of the amended constitution, the JAINA Charitable Trust has been established. The Trust will be autonomous in its operations, but its objectives will be controlled by the provisions of these by-laws. The purpose of the JAINA Charitable Trust is to raise funds for various activities of JAINA.
The JAINA Executive Committee wishes to thank all members of the Constitution Committee, especially Dr. Jagmohan Humar of Ottawa, Canada, who chaired the Committee and diligently prepared the final document. A copy of the constitution is available through the director of each Jain center/society who served on the JAINA Board of Directors.
JSMW VP dies unexpectedly
Mr. Ramnikbhai Sanghvi, Vice President of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington, died suddenly of a massive heart attack on Sept. 6, 1992. He was a pioneer of the Society and served as a vice president for the past 10 years.
Ramnikbhai made a tremendous contribution to JSMW and his absence will be deeply felt.
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International News
Jains Meet In Bhopal Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from India Abroad, Dec. 4. 1992.
Sahu Ramesh Chandra Jain, the newly elected president of the Akhil Bharatiyaa Digamber Jain Parishad, called upon members of the Jain community to promote vegetarianism and to work for protection of the environment.
Speaking at the national convention of the parishad in Bhopal, he said the organization was committed to work for the unity of society, removing social evils and developing religious faith among young people.
"We should be proud about our past and at the same time we must work for progress in the future," he said, declaring that the present world was becoming more materialistic. "We cannot ignore humanism and still achieve our goal," he asserted.
He said world peace could be maintained by following the ideals of Lord Mahavir. On behalf of JAINA, JAINA President Sulekh Jain sent congratulations to Sahu Jain on his election.
Jain Society of Alberta to hold Pratishtha ceremony
The Jain Society of Alberta will have the Pratishtha ceremony for building Mahavir Temple on April 4 which will coincide with Mahavir Jayanti. The Society celebrated the birth anniversary of Lord Parsanathji on December 19, 1992 with a two hour puja, lectures and priti bhojan that was attended by nearly 300 people.
JAINA wishes to congratulate the members of the Society for undertaking this project even with a small group of Jain families. ContriContinued on page 8