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HEADQUARTERS NEWS
Acharya Tulsi Passes Away
JAINA Vardhaman Mahavir Educational Endowment Fund
Acharya Tulsi, a leading spiritual teacher, a Jain saint and an advocate of global peace, died following a heart attack in Bikaner, Rajasthan on June 23. He was 84.
The spiritual leader was given the title of 'Yug Pradhan' (leader of the generation) by president V.V. Giri in 1971. He was also a recipient of the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award and the Bharat Jyoti and Vakpati Awards.
He was not only a saint, but also a poet, orator and writer. He had written over 100 books. The Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute in Rajasthan, founded by Acharya Tulsi, is undertaking research on ahimsa or nonviolence and world peace. The Jain teacher had undertaken a padyatra (journey on foot) over 6,200 miles all over the India to promote this cause.
All the peace loving people and particularly the Jains will miss Acharya Tulsi very much. (See Acharya Tulsi tribute on page 15).
JAINA launched the 'JAINA Vardhaman Mahavir Educational Endowment Fund' at the 9th Biennial Convention of JAINA in Toronto. The sole purpose of this fund is to provide Jain education, Jain teacher training scholarships, essay competition on Jainism and establishing a university chair on Jainism. So far, pledges of $75,000 have been received. For more information, contact JAINA Headquarters.
Congratulations to... ...Drs. Mahendra and Chandra Varia of Martin, Kentuky, for their generous donation of $100,000 to Prestonsburg Community College. The prayer and the donation are the couple's way of sharing their good fortune with those around them. In 1993, the couple set up a $25,000 scholarship fund for the many children Dr. Chandra Varia had delivered in the area. The entire Jain community of North America is very proud of the Varias for their act of sharing and caring for those who need most.
Jain Medical Convention-1997
...the Jain Center of South Florida for taking the first major step by acquiring land to build their own Jain temple, which will fulfill a need for hundreds of Jain families living in Southern Florida. JAINA extends its full cooperation to the Center to make their dream a reality.
The Jain Medical Convention was held in Orlando, Florida on March 22nd and 23rd. Physicians, pharmacists and other people from all over the United States attended the program. The program was organized by Dr. Usha Jain and Manohar Jain of Orlando, Florida.
Saturday evening began with a reception and get together. The welcome speech was given by Manohar Jain, followed by introduc- tions of JAINA and a speech by Dr. Dhiraj Shah. Dr. Usha Jain conducted the cultural program which included different styles of performances in Jain religion.
The CME conference was held the next morning in which known speakers from different universities lectured on different common medical topics.
Family members who didn't attend the conference enjoyed conversation with samaniji.
The next convention will be held in June 1998 in Orlando, Florida.
For further information please call Usha and Manohar Jain at 407/876-4444 or 407/876-5555.
... the Jain Center of Greater Boston for publishing the 4th edition of the Jain Directory of North America. It contains very useful and interesting information. The Directory was released at the 9th Biennial JAINA convention by Gurudev Chitrabhanu. JAINA is very proud to have the Jain Center of Greater Boston as one of its pillars.
...to Chandra (sister of Dr. L. M. Singhvi, Indian High Commissioner to the U.K.) and Narpat Bhandari, who donated $250,000 to the University of California, Santa Cruz, for an Indian Studies Chair named after Chandra.
4/JAIN DIGEST FALL 1997
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