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SHRI VIRCHAND RAGHAVJI GANDHI'S CONTRIBUTION TO JAINISM
-- Dr. Kumarpal Desai, Ahmedabad, India
Certain personalities leave indelible footprints on the sands spoke as a Jain and yet he often took sides with Hindus but above of time, their legacy is not affected by the constantly revolving all, he always spoke as an Indian. wheel of time.
At the conference Virchand Gandhi made a brief but striking At the World Religions Conference held in Chicago, U.S.A., presentation on the fundamentals of the Jain religion. He exover a century ago, America, and the west, for the first time, heard pounded the Jain religion in two of its main aspects, namely, Jain the determined, spirited, resonant voice of ancient India, and the philosophy and the Jain way of life. He elucidated the nine elemessage of Indian philosophy and culture. Two Indian delegates ments, the six types of Jivas, the subtle strands of thought in Jain participating at this conference awakened the western world to philosophy regarding Dravyarthik and Paryayarthi-kanaya, the the spiritual heritage of India. One of these was Swami Vivekanand Syadvad and other philosophical aspects which fascinated all. He whose success in the World Religions Conference of Chicago is illustrated the specific Jain code of conduct, the Jain way of life fresh in everyone's memory today. But the contribution of an- and explained the cardinal principles of Jain cosmology, comparother Indian delegate to the same Conference, Shri Virchand ing it with Buddhism and other religions. He also established the Raghavji Gandhi, the representative of the Jain religion, has a claim fact that Jainism is older than Buddhism. His discourses convinced to equal attention by virtue of the success he achieved at the Con- the elite of America of the fact that the Jain religion has an auference and also by his work as a religious thinker.
thentic and rational religious tradition. Expressing his joy about Hundred years ago in 1893, more than three thousand del- this new knowledge, an American gentlemen gave his opinion about egates of different nations and religions had assembled at the con- Virchand Gandhi in these words: ference. The conference was inaugurated on 11th September, 1893, "In this religious gathering a number of philosophers, preachand Virchand Gandhi, Swami Vivekanand, P. C. Majumdar and ers and scholars came from India and delivered lectures and each other eminent scholars from India were present as distinguished one of them presented a new perspective and presented a new participants. The aim of this religious conference was to impart to element so as to convince that their religion ranks high with great the world the knowledge of different religions and to promote a religions of the world, moreover, their oratory and devotion prefeeling of fraternity between followers of diverse religious persua- sented distinct types and were full of wisdom and contemplation. sion, and so to pave the way for world peace.
Among them was an outstanding young man of Jain religion who Virchand Gandhi, a young man of twenty-nine, impressed gave new ideas about morality and philosophy. Though he is only the delegates not only by his eloquence, but also by the sheer weight a house-holder and not a monk or religious preacher, he can exof his scholarship. He wore a long and loose kurta, a white shawl pound so well. Who must then be his gurus ? His simple but strikon his shoulder, a golden-bordered Kathiawadi turban and coun- ing philosophy of life is worth knowing, worth understanding." try shoes. This external appearance bore the imprint of India. The Another special characteristic of Virchand Raghavji Gandhi's scholarship, the impartiality of outlook and the oratorical skill of lectures on the Jain religion was that they did not deal in criticism this man fascinated the delegates at the conference of World Reli- of other religions. Free from sectarian preferences and prejudices, gions. An American newspaper wrote, "of all Eastern scholars it his impartial ideology is an apt expression of the Jain who pracwas this youth whose lecture of Jain faith and conduct was lis- tices Ahimsa in life and Anekanta in thoughts. His lectures were tened to with the interest engaging the greatest attention." marked by a fusion of natural sentiments, profound study, and
Virchand Gandhi talked about the doctrines of Jainism in genuine enthusiasm. The lectures served to educate the American such a coherent manner that some newspapers published the text society regarding the salient features of Indian culture. Virchand of his lecture in full. He had a most effective way of handling the Raghavji Gandhi is the author of The 'Yoga Philosophy', 'The otherwise abstruse terminology of Jainism. He had an extraordi- Jain Philosophy and other books of which 'The Karma Philosonary ability to clarify his statements in a consistent and logical phy' may be regarded as his best contribution. In discussing the manner. As he expounded his views, he would give his own inter- Jain doctrine of Karma in the book, the author reveals his propretations of some of the most difficult points. His lectures dem- found devotion to studies and his awakened and discerning relionstrated the fact that the study of Sanskrit and Prakrit alone was gious sentiments. not enough for a proper understanding and exposition of Indian Virchand Gandhi was not only a philosophical thinker but he philosophy; it was also necessary to assimilate and to realise India's also had the welfare of the nation at heart. There prevailed in past culture in its proper context. Virchand Gandhi had realised America the belief that India was a country of tigers, serpents, the cultural context and that is why he was never dogmatic; he magicians and the Kings. Chirstian missionaries also presented to
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