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building a temple/upashray started and the 1.3 acres of property were purchased with an existing house of 2100 sq. feet under the presidency of Dr. Shashikant Shah.
A Revolutionary 88 years young man
Dr. Shah and his family here and his brother Hitesh Shah in India took over the big task. Mr. Rajendra Mehta and his family took an initiative of contacting many Jain Tirths and Jain temples in India for their contributions to our temple. With the help of local families of Mr. Madhubhai Sheth, Mr. Dilipbhai Shah and Mr. Gaurav Jhaveri, we contacted Shri Matunga Vasupujya Jain Sangh, Sanghs in Ahmedabad, Sri Sankheswer Jain Tirths, many Jain individual families in Bombay, Ahmedabad, Kutch and Kutch Jain Sangh, we got material donations like Bhandar, Tigdu, Pooja materials, marbles for Gabhara for our temple/upashray, We are thankful to them.
Mr. Hitesh shah took charge of getting a single piece of Makarana marble from Rajasthan and he got all the five murties and Navakar Shila made from a single piece of marble. All the murties and all other materials were stored in his house in Baroda till they were shipped here. He even stayed in India till the shipments were made to U.S.A. Thanks to him and his family for his dedicated work.
Since 1985 Navalbhai Shah is well known for his generosity and selfless service. He is honest, humble, compassionate and revolutionary.
Navalbhai started his carrier as a salesman of a drug manufacturing company in Rangoon, Burma. He worked his way up. After years of experience he established his own drug manufacturing company in India. He was always helpful to the needy people. He donated four mobile vans to small villages for the detection and cure of eye problems.
In 1985 Navalbhai settled in America due to his wife's poor health. She passed away 10 years later. Navalbhai has devoted his life for the social services. He is the founder of Shree Mahavir Jain Charitable Foundation, a non profit organization. This organization is also a member of JAINA. Navalbhai is a managing trustee of this organization. He is also the president of Asian Seniors Indian Association comprising of approximately 1000 members.
Navalbhai listened to the lectures of Gurudev Chitrabhanuji, Bandhu Triputi and other prominent scholars of India and USA. He purchased series of audio tapes. He made about twenty thousand copies of selected tapes at his own expense and distributed to most Jain centers of USA and Canada. He requested $1 donation towards the purchase of each tape. The collected amount was donated to charity. He has a long list of selected tapes. Anyone can request the purchase of religious tapes by calling him directly
Recently Shree Navalbhai has nearly lost his eye sight. He is still active and managing his activities using telephone. You may contact him at (714) 543-9711.
Today the Jain Society Temple / Upashray is a result of dedicated and unselfish work of Dr. Shashikant Shah & his wife Lata Shah for last four years. Also entire Jain community of JSOCF provided great support to him.
The success of the Pratistha Mahotsav has inspired us to participate in JAINA's first senior housing complex on a nearby plot. Stay tuned for the next big thing in Orlando.
by Rajendra Mehta JSOCF Member, JAINA Director and JAINA Education Committee Member
APPEAL TO ALL CENTERS PRESIDENTS FOR
JIVDAYA FUNDS
JAINA Representative meets Prime Minister
Dr. Dhiraj Shah, Chairman of Govt.& International organizations relations and Past President of JAINA, attended a meeting with Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Newyork City on Sept. 23. JAINA was invited by the Indian ambassador of India to U.S.A. Prime Minister was in Newyork to attend General Assembly of United Nations.
JIVDAYA COMMITTEE is collecting funds for distribution to various Panjarapols and Animal Shelters. We can distribute Jivdaya funds equitably amongst the institutions that we have visited and varified their needs. Please send your Jivdaya funds to JAINA'S JIVDAYA FUNDS. Pramodaben Chitrabhanu will be visiting many of these panjarapols after Diwali and report back on the progress being made. To send personal or your center conributions contact Jit Turakhia, JAINA Treasurer, 4013 Pawnee Dr. Liverpool, NY 13090
17. JAIN DIGEST · FALL 2004
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Jain Education Intemational 2010_03
www.jainelibrary.org
