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HEADQUARTERS NEWS (continued)
First Young Jain Professionals Convention Held January 16-19, 1998
The first Young Jain Professionals Convention was held from January 16 to 19, in Miami, Florida. The event, organized by dedicated young professionals from around the country with support from the YJA, was the first forum of its type. The purpose was to provide a forum for discussing issues that young Jains deal with in the professional world and was geared primarily towards individuals between the ages of 22 to the mid-thirties.
Lecture topics included Fundamentals of Jainism, applying religion to daily life, Jain ethics in the Science, Art and Business of Medicine, and socially responsible investing, Discussion topics
Bhattarak Charukeertiji Passes Away
Bhattarak Charukeertiji of Jain Math at Moodbidri, Karnataka passed away on January 16. He was only 50. He suffered a fatal heart attack as he slept at night. A scholar with extensive knowledge of Jain Scriptures, Hindu Philosophy, Prakrit, Pali and M.A. in Hindi and Sanskrit, he traveled throughout India and the world to spread the message of Lord Mahavir. He restored Moodbidri as a prime pilgrimage in Karnataka State. Restored Ratnaatrya Siddhanta Bhavan for holy darshana of Navratna Pratimas. Set up Ramarani Research Institute. He was the custodian of Navratna Pratimas, and Dhawala, Jaya Dhawala and Maha Dhawal Grantha. Helped Teerth Sthapna at Siddhachalam and along with Gurudev Chitrabhanu, performed Pratishtha at most of the temples in North America. Guided Jain festivals of Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana and Das Laxan Dharma throughout the world. He first came to America in 1979 and for the last 15 years has been coming to America every year through JAINA'S Scholar Visitation Program. For the last 10 years, he was at the New York Centre for Das Laxana Parva. He was always an invited scholar at the JAINA convention. After the JAINA convention in Toronto, he visited Houston and New York. His last stop in America was in Alaska, as he was invited by 250 Hindu-Jain families from the Alaskan community. From Alaska he went to Australia before returning to India. Charukeertiji Maharaj will be missed by the entire Jain Community in North America.
Samarpan Jain Sangh Approves Convention Bid
At a general body meeting of the Samarpan Jain Sangh of Philadelphia in December, a resolution to host 1999 JAINA Convention in Philadelphia was approved by an overwhelming majority. The Sangh will now present their proposal to the Executive Committee of JAINA.
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included: should Jains be excluded from certain professions, nonviolent communication, ethical issues in the legal profession, balancing career and family and becoming involved in the Jain community. Yoga and meditation sessions were also held. Sightseeing around Miami helped round-up the three-day convention.
At the end, there was a session on future directions for young Jain Professionals. The group decided that it was premature at this point to form any kind of official organization, but to continue planning informal events and to meet again in September. For more information, call Shilpa Shah at 404/321-4637.
Mahavir Samarak Samiti
Mahavir Samarak Samiti met on January 19th, 1998 at Mr. Deepchand Gardi's (President of the Samiti) residence in Bombay to discuss plans for celebration of Bhagwan Mahavir's 2600th Birthday. In the year 2001, the Jains all over the world will celebrate Bhagwan Mahavir's 2600th Birth Anniversary. JAINA was invited to participate in planning.
Congratulations to....
...Ila Mehta of Toledo, Ohio received the Group Leadership Award from the International Institute of Greater Toledo on February 12, 1998. Ila has served the Indian Community in the Toledo area for over 20 years. Her activities are numerous; to name a few she produced and presented a multimedia slide presentation with dance, music and artifacts about India. She also staged and produced great Epic stories such as Ramayan and Shakuntala with a huge cast of over 100 participants. For the Indian youth she developed a program "Growing Together" for smooth interaction between teenagers and parents. At present she is chairing the Jain family assistance program of JAINA. JAINA is proud to have her as part of its organization.
...Ratibhai Shah of Dallas, Texas to be appointed as new Chairperson of Jiv Daya Committee.
...Vinay Vakani of Oradell, N.J. to be appointed as chairperson of Senior Citizen Committee.
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