Jain Digest 2001 01 Vol 17 No 01

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

Page 35

COMMITTEE NEWS....
VS.... TIRTHODHAR COMMITTEE
JAINA -THE TIRTH RAKHSHAK OF LACHWAR
How best to celebrate the 2600 Birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir? Yatris of JAINA Pilgrimage 2001 and the Tirthodhar Committee have found a wonderful way. During January of this year, we visited Lachhwar (Kshatriya Kund) Mahavir Swami's Garbha and Janam Kalynak. We climbed the mountain to visit Kshatryia Kund. There is a beautiful murti of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami.
What struck most of us was the poverty in Bihar. Though most of the tirthankar's were born here and went to moksha from this state, the state has lost that magic. Nowhere is to be found those rich kingdoms or rich shravks and happy citizens. There is no significant Jain population living in Bihar. Jainism has almost disappeared in this land where Jainism once flourished and as a result, all you find today is deep poverty and hopelessness. At the end of the day, We were requested as a Sangh to visit a private school.
What we saw was unbelievable. The school had nice garden, and looked like 8 rooms under construction. There were no walls, windows or doors, just open room with four pillars. The roof was covered with Grass; the floor was bare of any covering or tiles. We thought this was still under construction, so we asked Principle about its completion date. He told us that this was it. This was the real school. They did not have any money or resources to have any thing else. All students set on the ground for 7-8 hours/day. There were no benches or tables. The blackboard was painted on one side of the wall, separating other classroom. It was an open classroom. When it rained, they all gathered under one tree, till rain passed away. If it got worst, they all went home. There were 300 students enrolled, but the average attendance on any given day was about 250 students. On a day when pilgrims were in town attendance would usually drop down to 150 students. Absentees probably worked for Yatris so they could earn some tuition fees. There were total of eight teachers, and fee was from 25-45 Rs. Per month, When we asked students what would they like from us, they all wanted to have benches with tables, decent roof over the school, water, electricity, books etc. It was a moving experience.
Our next stop was Veerayatan and we discussed the school situation and our desire to help with Aacharya Chandanaji. She agreed to work with JAINA. Very next day Aacharya Chnadnaji sent message to Lachwar to bring principal to Rajgir. She told him about our plans of helping them. . We offered to build a New school with eight rooms and all the basic amenities. Veerayatan will also attach a small clinic. Estimated cost for the total project is $90,000. JAINA will raise funds for this mission. On day to day basis, it will be managed by the principal, and looked over and audited by Veerayatan. JAINA will stay involved through Teerthodhar Committee, as Tirth Rakshak of Lachwar Tirth.
Name of the school will be Shri Tirthkanr Bhagwan Mahavir Swami Vidaylaya. Students will be required to start their prayers with Namokar Mantra. Parents will be requested to become vegetarian, and give up Alcohol. She will request Government of Bihar to improve roads leading to Lachwar Tirth. If you would like to participate in this project of re igniting Jainism in the very land where Mahavir was born, Contact: Kirit Daftary, Chairman, Tirthodhar Committee, 3322 Woodlake Drive, Waco, TX 76710 Phone Number: 254-776-4209, e-mail: netrat@att.net
MEDIA WATCH COMMITTEE (CONT.)
• Draft letter to elected leader, inviting them to the event and requesting a proclamation declaring Friday,
April 6 as the “Non-Violence Day".
Draft letter to elected leader requesting them to host/ recite Jain prayer. • A public concern was voiced regarding nomination of Senator Ashcroft as the Attorney General: • Will Senator Ashcroft defend religious rights of all people of faith or impose his own beliefs as, a Pentecostal Christian,
he has done in past? • President Bush's proposal of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Service. • We need to discuss Pros and Cons of this issue. special session is being planned to develop policy statements to serve as guiding principles when addressing these issues for future.
JAIN DIGEST SPRING 2001 / 33
Jain Education Intemational 2010_02