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On the home front many more activities are under way, as summarized below:
Dr. Tansukh Salgia, past president of JAINA and Chairman of Government and International Organization Relations is working to get the NGO status for JAINA at the United Nations. With this status JAINA could get funding from the United Nations for international charitable projects. It will also give us a platform to deliver our message on
Jain Values at international events.
Mr. Naresh Jain, Co-chair of the JAINA Interfaith Committee has been selected to a committee that will decide
the site for 2009 Parliament of World Religion Conference. It is a source of great pride for JAINA that Mr. Jain's active
role on the Interfaith Committee has been noticed by other
organizations. JAINA is actively working with Jain leaders in India so that they can potentially host the next World
Parliament in 2009.
Mr Gunvantbhai Shah and Mr. Mukesh Doshi, working closely with JNF, MIS, YJA and YJP have planned a "Jain Milan" function in the New Jersey area. Jain Milan offers a great opportunity for Jain Youths to network and know each other face-to-face for the purpose of matrimony. (See details in this issue).
JAINA Adhyatmic Committee, under the leadership of Hasmukhbhai Shah will be holding its first shibir of SAMAYSAR at Niagara Falls, Canada during the long weekend of May. Rajendra Kamdar will be one of the main
scholars at this function.
Over 50 JAINA and Jain Center leaders attended the first Jain Leadership Conference at Kellogg Business School in Chicago. Dean Dipak Jain and the Long Range Planning Committee invested over 2000 man hours to come up with unique tools and learning materials that can be used for the advancement and management of all local Jain centers.
We would like all members to get involved in the progress of JAINA and our JAIN heritage. We will soon open a forum where community members can send in their valuable comments.
With best wishes and regards
Kinle
Kirit C Daftary, President
JAIN DIGEST Summer 2006/3
Jain Education International
PRESS RELEASE
NRI'S REQUEST FOR COMMEMORATIVE STAMP
Jains worldwide will be observing "Remembering Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (VRG)" event during August 2006. Celebrations are being organized by various organizations across the globe. JAINA is leading the initiative to request the Indian Post office to issue a stamp in memory of VRG.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology JAINA have requested Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Hon. and India Post to issue a commemorative stamp for Virchand Raghavji Gandhi (VRG) 1864 - 1901 on either August 7th or August 25th, 2006, his anniversary date or his birthday.
VRG was India's great emissary to the west. VRG educated the west about the rich Indian culture, civilization and traditions. This great cultural ambassador needs to be suitably honored and recognized.
VRG represented Jain faith at the first Parliament of World Religion in 1893 at Chicago. He was awarded a silver medal for this contribution. VRG was also an Asian delegate at the 1899 International Commerce Conference, where he advocated the post-parcel system. VRG, a Barrister-at-law by profession, successfully advanced the causes of animal welfare, vegetarianism and unjust head pool tax levy. Visit www.jaina.org for JAINA's activities and achievements.For more information, contact: Mr. Pravin C. Shah at 516-2488265; e-mail: pravineshah2k@yahoo.com Mr. Prakash Mody at 416-491-5560; E-mail: 4prakash@gmail.com
JAINS MAY GET A MINORITY STATUS
New Delhi, May 10: Despite the Supreme Court's direction against any addition to the list of "notified minorities," the Centre is drawing plans to give Jains the status of a religious minority. Minister for Minority Affairs, A R Antulay, who has held talks with "various Jain organisations", told The Indian Express there was "consensus in the community" for the minority status under Section 2 (C) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. "We want to broaden the concept of minorities by including communities like Jains and Kashmiri Pandits," he said. The move flies in the face of a SC judgment delivered last August. A bench headed by then CJI R C Lahoti, while dismissing a plea to direct the Centre to notify Jains as a religious minority, said identification of minorities on the basis of religion would further divide the country.
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