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COMMITTEE NEWS..
VIRCHAND RAGHAVJI GANDHI SCHOLARSHIP FUND
VR Gandhi Scholarship Fund was established by JAINA fall of 1997. This scholarship is awarded to bright and needy students studying Jainism and/or pursuing doctorate and/or research studies in fields like Jain philosophy, Jain literature, Jain scriptures, Jain temple architecture etc. at recognized University or Institution.
Late Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi,a renowned Barrister At Law, a great exponent of Indian culture, a philosopher, a great Jain scholar, patriot and humanitarian represented Jainism in the first Parliament of world religions at Chicago in 1893. To commemorate the centenary of that great event, Chicago Jain center had installed his statue at the temple in 1995.
He was responsible in closing down slaughter house at Sametshikhar, abolishing poll tax on Jain pilgrims at Shatrunjaya and sending money and ship load of grain to India from U.S.A. in worst famine of 1897. The year 2001 is VRG's death centenary
year.
We have contacted several institutions for disbursement of this scholarship. But because of lack of enough funds, we have not been able to start it yet. We are in process of starting it early in the
next year.
We are sure that, our Jain community will whole-heartedly support this project, which is designed to spread Lord Mahavir's message of universal love and nonviolence, his only life time goal. No stone is to be left unturned to make the whole world aware of V.R.G.'S mission, but with the joint efforts of all of us. Your generous, tax-deducible contribution to this worthy cause will be greatly appreciated. Please make your check payable to JAINA, indicate in the memo VRG Scholarship Fund and mail
to:
Mr. Anop Vora
Treasurer, JAINA
One Robin Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14618
A list of donors since last publication in Jain Digest is as follows:
Ram Goda & family Navin & Ranjan Shah Jain Society of N. Texas
St. Paul, MN Dix Hills, NY Dallas TX
14/JAIN DIGEST WINTER 1999
Jain Education International 2010_02
$1,000 $ 100 $ 500
Leena Shah
For more information and suggestions, please contact any of the following members of Shri V. R. Gandhi Scholarship Committee: Pravin C. Shah 516-248-8265 610-398-8706 Anop R. Vora 716-473-9290 Ashok B.Shah 718-776-3770 Pravin K. Shah 919-469-0956 Surendra Gandhi 718-897-6972 Kanti D. Mepani 203-921-1950 Kishor J. Mehta 516-747-0469 Vinay Vakani 201-967-9344 Chandrakant Shah 718-343-1603
WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE
(W.C.S.) of Federation of JAINA has launched an Orissa Cyclone Relief Fund to raise the fund to help the victims of the worst cyclone in India in this century. The cyclone hit the east coast of Orissa on October 29,1999. Thousands of people are feared killed and about 2 Million people left homeless. More than 200,000 houses have been destroyed. Waves as high as 30 feet lashed the coast. This is a national calamity. Many areas are completely cut off with other parts of the state. The victims need the basic necessities like Water, food, clothes and shelter. JAINA and W.C.S. have decided to work with Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Charitable Trust Bombay, India to assist the victims. We are ready to send one container of the used clothes to Bombay to be distributed by D.M.Mehta Charitable Trust. Previously with your support we had raised $100,000.00 for Latur Earth Quake Fund, more than $70,000.00 for Kutch Cyclone Relief Fund and then for Kosovo and Turkey Earthquake fund. This time we request you to help generously for this humane cause. Your donation is tax deductible. So please contribute We are the followers of "Jiv Daya" and "Ahimsa" and it is our generously for this noble cause. moral obligation to respond to this cause and help these victims of the Cyclone. Your contribution will make a remarkable difference in the lives of these unfortunate people.
We request you to send your tax deductible (in USA) contribution payable to JAINA on receipt of this appeal and mail to: Bachubhai S. Ajmera
521, Avenleigh Court, Ashton, MD 20861-3636
JAINA DONATES "PHACO EMULSIFICATION" MACHINES TO VEERAYATAN, INDIA
The World Community Service donated two Phaco Emulsification machines to "VEERAYATAN" Rajgir, Bihar to help fight the blindness affecting every one out of ten persons in the state of Bihar. Veerayatan run by Jain Sadhvis is well known for its humanitarian activities. Through the Eye Hospital, Orthopedic, Polio, Artificial limb and out patient medical clinics, Veerayatan serves the poor and indigent people of Bihar. So far, 100,000 Eye operations have been performed entirely free of charge on any needy person, irrespective of his or her religion, race, color, or caste. Addition of two Phaco Emulsification machines will enhance the capacity of doctors to treat many more patients and be blessing to the poor people of Bihar. For more information, please call Bhadresh Dhila, Co-Chairman of World Community Service at (301) 589-4610
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