Jain Digest 2004 11 Vol 23 No 4

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 17

US CONGRESSMAN JOINS DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
BY JAINS IN NEW JERSEY
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The attached picture shows the congressman Frank Pallone conversing with Dev Joshi of 88.7 FM radio program 'Bharat Darshan' along with children and guests.
US Congressman Frank Pallone. Jr., joined the children to celebrate Diwali organized by the International Jain Sangh in South River, New Jersey. Fifty-two children performing on stage on Saturday, November 8, 2003, shook hands and took pictures with the congressman. Members of several faiths and ethnic groups joined the festivities dedicated to the needy children of the nearby Asbury Park school. Artist from the Creations Dance Academy gave several performances, and an accomplished singer Shri Ghanshyam Joshi entertained the guests by his melodious voice in the evening program coordinated by Neena Jain (732) 9060103
Mr. Nemubhai Chandaria honoured for his services to the Jain Community
Mr Nemubhai Chandaria was awarded the OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in Her Majesty's June 2003 Birthday Honours List for his services to the Jain Community. Nemubhai is the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Jainology and has been the primary driving force behind the lo] activities. From his early formative years, community service always appealed to him. He was appointed Joint Secretary of the Rotary Club of Addis Ababa, in 1964, in 1966 on moving to Asmara, he was appointed as International Director of the Rotary Club of Asmara. The charitable undertakings of the Rotary Club are well-known. Nemubhai provided enthusiasm and support to several of Club activities during his directorship.
He was also involved with the Haile Selassie Foundation whilst living in Ethiopia. The Foundation managed several charitable institutions including the School for the Blind and the Orphanage for Children
In 1988, he read an article in the Herald Tribune announcing the formation of the International Sacred Literature Trust (ISLT) with a mission to undertake translations of scriptures of various faiths into contemporary English. Jainism was not in the list of the translation work. Nemubhai contacted the President of the trust HRH Prince Philip, who responded positively.
Nemubhai's desire was to unite Jain sources and avoid duplication with only limited resources available from the community. The proposed activities of JSLT were merged with those of the Institute of Jainology (IO]) whose objectives were very similar. IOJ represents all Jains sects world-wide and he became its International Co-ordinator. IoJ has undertaken a wide range of activities under the banner of "The Jains'. A quick view of the projects at www.jainology.org will give an idea of the extent to which the cause of Jainism has been promoted. All of these projects bear the imprint of Nemubhai's foresight, meticulous planning and hard work.
Notable, amongst the projects is the publication of the Jain Declaration on Nature. It was for the first time, that all Jain sects worldwide were united and acted jointly when they presented the declaration to HRH Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. IOJ as a result joined the family of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and Jainism thus became the eighth recognised faith of the World.
The first Jain scripture to be translated jointly under the ISLT mission was the Tattvartha Sutra - That Which Is, by Dr Nathmal Tatia, published by Harper Collins and launched by HRH Prince Philip in July, 1995. All the Jain sects participated in the translation of these scriptures. On the occasion of the celebration of the 26th Birth Centenary of Bhagwan Mahavir, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, conferred Jain Rama award on Nemubhai appreciation of his services to the Jain community
This award in the Queen's Birthday Honours List is absolutely well deserved and the loJ can take justifiable pride in having him as the Deputy Chairman of its Board of Trustees.
JAIN DIGEST⚫ Fall 2003/15