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North American Jains History Committee:
of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) was formally established with Dr. Manoj Dharamsi as President. • Between 1983 and 1993, under the Presidencies of Dr. Manoj Dharamsi, Dr. Tansukh Salgia and Dr. Sulekh Jain, 45 new Jain Centers were established.
Jasvant (JV) Mehta, Chair Dr. Vastupal Parikh, & Ram Gada Co-chairs Dr. Tansukh Salgia Dr. Manoj Dharamsi Dr. Dhiraj Shah
Prakash Mody
A History Committee under JAINA has been formed with the purpose of:
N. American Jains History Advisory Committee:
Keshav Chandaria Satish Shah Dr. Manibhai Mehta
Dr. Rati Dodhia Dr. Sulekh Jain
Jain Centers:
We are hoping that each Jain Center will create it's own History Committee and work with us in establishing their records, research past minutes and available documents of their center, talk with their past executive members and pioneers and provide the following data:
1. To record the role-played by the spiritual leaders, scholars, educationists, writers and community leaders and others in shaping the history of Jains in North America. 2. To publish various works based on the collected history of Jains in North America in the book form or in other media to advance the knowledge and understanding of Jainism. 3. To record oral history from Jain history makers, capturing their experiences, vision, and life stories in their own words. 4. To educate the current and future generations about Jainism, its principles and its message of peace, love, ahimsa (non-violence) and tolerance. 5. To work with other Jain Organizations/ Centers in North America and the world to advance the preservation of the history of Jainism. 6. "To publish a directory of Jain history organizations around the world. 7. To encourage and assist JAINA members in forming their own history committees and work with JAINA towards a common goal of collecting and preserving Jain History. 8. To establish a Jain History Center (Museum) in conjunction with JAINA Library where collected materials will be archived. 9. To record the contribution of Jains in the political, social, economic, scientific and arts fields and their life philosophy of harmonious coexistence based on non-violence to the well-being, progress and prosperity of North American multicultural societal mosaic.
History - when was your Center established, pratistha, expansion etc
Brief biography of your pioneers . Historic photographs and bibliography - past & present
Details of your Jain or Hindu/Jain temple. . Any other useful information available which would be of interest to readers of Jain history.
Old souvenir books, newsletters, magazines, books written by North American authors.
Anyone having any information like articles & books written by the members of your center, details about Jain artifacts with any of your members history of local centers, timeline of milestone of events, etc. which can be used in making this publication complete and comprehensive should be forwarded to us. Any info-material used will be suitably acknowledged with credit.
Let us capture this momentum and document our over 100 years of history and leave this legacy for the generations.
Proposal:
To capture the history of development of Jainism, the Jain Centers, Jain Scholars, educationist, writers and prominent Jains and their role in developments and in the spread of basic principles of Jainism in North America.
Committees: Following are the main 2 committees that will oversee writing of this History Book.
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32 · JAIN DIGEST · FALL 2004
Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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