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HEADQUARTERS NEWS....
JAINS MADE HISTORY IN THE U.S. CONGRESSE
lation of Shivamastu "May the entire universe attain bliss. May all beings be interested in one another's well being. May all faults be eliminated. May people be happy everywhere. Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!".
Over 140 delegates of Jain community from all over USA and Canada along with the representatives from Indian Embassy witnessed this momentous event from the Gallery of the House of Representatives. Among the delegates were Shree Manak Muniji, current President of JAINA, Dr. Mahendra Pandya, accompanied by all the past presidents of JAINA (Drs. Manoj Dharamsi, Tansukh
Salgia, Sulekh Jain, Jagat Jain, Manibhai Mehta, and Dhiraj Shah), Jaina Presidents with HouseChaplain Congblin, Gurudev
Jain Center Presidents and other Jain dignitaries. The day before, Chitrabbanaji, and Manekemuniji at the reception
the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. held a recep
tion at the Jain Center in honor of all the out of town visiting Jains of North America made history on May 22, 2001 when dignitaries. Gurudev Chitrabhanuji delivered the opening prayer in the House After the ceremonies, Congressman Frank Pallone held a reof Representative in celebration of 2600th birth anniversary of ception for all the delegates of Jain community. Father Daniel Lord Mahavir. For the first time in the history of the United Coughlin, Chaplain for the House also participated in the recepStates of America, Jainism and Jains of North America received tion, and thanked the Jain community for taking the initiative. this unprecedented recognition and honor of delivering a prayer JAINA representatives also presented a set of books on Jainism to in the US House of Representative. The cover photograph was Congressman Pallone, Chaplain Coughlin and their staff. Foltaken on the steps of the Capital Building after this historic event. lowing the reception, a senior staff member of Congressman Pallone
After the prayer, congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. of New Jer- also gave an extensive tour of the Capitol Buildings to all Jain sey, the sponsor of the event, paid trib
delegates who attended the utes to the Jain philosophy of non-vio
prayer. lence and to the Jain community in North
A group of JAINA DelAmerica for organizing this event. He
egates met with Senator Stated "Jains all around the world cel
Hillary Rodham Clinton of ebrated the 2600th Birth Anniversary of
New York to follow-up on the Lord Mahavir, the last of the revered 24
invitation to be the Chief Jinas who spread the Jain message. I guess
Guest at the 11th Biennial you could say, in a way, Lord Mahavir
JAINA convention. Senator was ahead of his times, once proclaiming
Clinton expressed a strong that all human beings are equal whether
desire to accept the invitation. male or female, rich or poor. The Jain
This delegation also met with religion, which places heavy emphasis on
Senator George Voinovich of personal and societal non-violence in JAINA delegates with Senator Hillary Clinton
Ohio to co-sponsor similar
prayer in the US Senate somethoughts, speech and actions, has flourished in India for over 3500 time
later this year. years”. He congratulated Dr. Sushil Jain for organizing, and thanked This landmark event was initiated and guided by Dr. Sushil House Chaplain Coughlin for allowing Jains the opportunity to Jain, Chairman of the JAINA Public Affairs Council and Dr. Manoj celebrate the Jain spirit on the House floor.
Dharamsi, Chairman of the 2600th Birth Anniversary Celebrations The prayer was delivered in English in accordance with the of Lord Mahavir. rules for the prayer in the congress. It started with "Let us all join our hands, heads and hearts together and bow to all perfect and liberated souls, and to all spiritual teachers" and ended with trans
47 JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 2001 Jain Education International 2010_02
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