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PEOPLE IN NEWS:
On the occasion of Ahimsa Varsh Celebration Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan honoured some of the leading personalities who have dedicated themselves to the promotion of Ahimsa in the world community, and serving the Indian community, through the preservation and furtherance of Indian culture, values and education. Bhavan bestowed on some individuals Ahimsa Ratna and Sewa Ratna Awards.
AHIMSA RATNA AWARD
Dr. Mahendra K. Pandya was awarded Ahimsa Ratna Awrad. The 66 year old Dr. Pandya is a first generation American. He came to America in 1966 after completion of his MD (medicine). Dr. Pandya's involvement with Jainism is not something new. He says, "Obviously, distance makes the heart grow fonder. But right from the beginning I have adhered to the precepts and principles of Jainism, whether in India or abroad.
Incidentally, Dr. Pandya was the founder member of the first JAINA unit in New York and he was also involved with establishing the first Jain temple in New York. What is JAINA? Dr. Pandya patiently explains, "There is a sizable population of Jains in the US, but scattered as they were, they hardly interacted in any significant way. So though there were several unitary bodies, there was no single unifying body. JAINA filled this vacuum. Established in 1981, JAIN is the umbrella organization that guides and combines all Jain centers in North America and Canada."
Dr. Pandya, the former President of JAINA has made it his life's mission to bring together all Jains irrespective of their language, region or tradition.
AHIMSA RATNA AWARD
6/ JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2002 Jain Education Intemational,
Devendra Tokarshi Peer was born in Bombay in a Jain family. "Peer" means a spiritual person. "Peer" was a title given to forefathers who were thought to posess "spiritual powers".
As President of Samarpan Jain Sangh he took initiative to host the 10th JAINA Convention in Philadelphia in 1999. With Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Father Valles and Poet Makarand Dave as speakers and teacher, this convention took Jain philosophy to a higher level of visibility and understanding.
Besides practising as a Certified Public Accountant, Devendra also spends his time understanding this message. He has been instrumental in establishing, under his wife, Dr. Meeta Peer's leadership, a Modern Rehabilitation Center in Pune, India. He has been a member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan since he was a student.
In 1999 Devendra wrote a play based on Kulpati Munshi's historic novel Patan-Ni-Prbhuta depicting the periodics of Gujarat's history when the philosophy of Non-violence began to be incorporated into the daily lives of people; Non-violence, not as a refuge of the cowards, but as an ornament of the brave. The fulllength play with 17 characters was staged at the Jain Convention in Philadelphia.
INTERNATIONAL JAIN SANGH AWARD TO DR. DHIRAJ SHAH
More than 500 pepole attended the Mahavir Jayanti celebration of International Jain Sangh on April 28 in South River NJ. The celebration began with Mahavir Swami Puja in the morning. H. H. Amrendra Muniji gave the spiritual lecture and Dr. P. Jayraman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was the guest speaker. Most of the cultural items presented were by the children including a play about Chandanbala. Another inspiring skit was the representation of multi cultural life. The children presented glimpse of the prayer, symbol and clothing of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith.
The Award for Excellence for the year 2002 was given to Dr. Dhiraj H. Shah, former President of JAINA - in recognization of his leadership in promoting principles of Jainism worldwide through humanitarian efforts. In accepting the Award, Dhirajbhai stressed that his was a team effort and the award belonged to all those volunteers who helped to bring relief to the victims of tragedies - earhquake in Gujarat, Uttarkashi (U.P.), Maharashtra, Northridge (CA); Cyclone in Orrisa and Kandala and Mississippi river flood etc.
Rep. Frank Pallone, founder of India Caucus in the house of Representative was also present and he presented copy of the Congressional Record of Mahavir Jayanti proclamation he sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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