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PEOPLE IN NEWS:
JAIN STORYTELLER AT THE SMITHSONIAN
Jain storyteller, Surabhi Shah was invited to perform at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Asian Art in Washington, DC. The performance was part of a weekend-long Storytelling Festival at the Freer, May 18-19, 2002, with professional storytellers sharing tales from throughout Asia. At this event, Surabhi chose to focus exclusively on Jain stories.
"Through her stories she conveyed principles and spirit of Jainism to [an audience] who probably knew nothing about the religion. Her voice, eyes, movement of hands and body, and singing were used so effectively to enchant, glue the audience," noted Museum scholar, Erika Masuoka.
Surabhi's signature style of weaving stavans and scriptures into the fabric of her stories is inspired by early memories of Jain vyakhans (sermons). In these colorful sermons, the sadhvi or sadhu would use stories to illustrate, to educate and to entertain. Stories were sprinkled with sung verses of the relevant scriptures, call and response, stories within stories, all to keep the faithful shravikas-shravaks engaged and alert."
In our lives today, Surabhi asserts, Jain stories are more relevant than ever. "In college or at work, friends were interested in my religion. Stories helped them to understand unfamiliar Jain concepts such as aparigraha (non-attchment) and anekantvad (the
multifaceted nature of existence). Stories are also an effective and enjoyable way to share Jain concepts within our community. When I learn a Jain principle through a story, I've noticed that it has a greater impact on me...it sticks with me."
Surabhi was born in the US and raised in Canada. Years later, in North Carolina, she met celebrated storyteller Louise Omoto Kessel through the Five Faiths Project of the Ackland Museum of Art. Louise's unique and subtle guidance had a profound influence on Surabhi; soon, she wanted to share her new skills with the Jain community. She invited Louise to lead a workshop at the Jain Pathshala Teacher's workshop in Raleigh in 1998. To help her wedding guests understand the ceremony in cultural context, Surabhi even requested Louise to perform a story during her wedding!
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With friend and collaborator, Jina Shah, Surabhi facilitated a Jain Storytelling workshop at JAINA 1999 in Philadelphia and Creative Performance workshop at JAINA 2001 in Chicago. The enthusiastic response from the community has fueled her desire to craft a five-story performance peace focused on women of Jainism. In her local community, Surabhi has performed Jain stories at events supporting survivors of domestic violence and festivals promoting environmental causes.
Jain Education International
UNIVERSITY MEDAL AWARDED TO SHAYNA PAREKH
Amongst 10,000 students graduating this year from University of California, Berkeley, Shayna Parekh was honored as a top graduate and awarded the University Medal in recognition of her impressive academic achievement and exemplary public service,
both in the USA and in India. "Each year, UC Berkeley awards one graduating senior the University Medal for academic excellence and outstanding community involvement. University Chancellor Robert Berdahl presented the University Medal to Shayna at the Commencement Convocation on May 17. Shayna dedicated her convocation
speech to the millions "who have suffered, and who will continue to suffer and die because, quite simply, the rest of us have failed to understand." Quoting a Chinese proverb - it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, she urged her fellow graduates to "use your knowledge to light the candle and defeat the darkness for the benefit of others."
Graduating with a double major in political science and interdisciplinary studies, Shayna plans to spend a year in India working at Veerayatan. Later, she hopes to enroll at the London School of Economics and pursue a graduate degree in social planning in developing countries.
Sadhvi Shilapiji wrote in her recommendation for Shayna. "Shayna organized and supervised evening reading and writing courses, inspiring the laborers to start on their journey to literacy. Shayna also worked tirelessly to break the gender barrier as she, through many days of discussion, convinced fathers to allow their illiterate daughters to attend reading and writing courses. Shayna worked at the local YMCA and the Oakland Elizabeth House, serving as a tutor and mentor to underprivileged children.
Shayna is the daughter of Chandrakant and Hasmita Parekh of Cerritos, California. Chandrakant is the West Region Editor of the Jain Digest. Shayna attended the Pathshala at the Jain Center of Southern California and served as a President of its Jain Center Youth Council. It is interesting to note that two of the six finalists were from the Jain Center of Southern California, namely, Shayna, and Rishi, son of Ramesh and Bindi Doshi.
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JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2002/7
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