Jain Digest 2014 11

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

Page 17

Ghandi ghandi
before
Sir Jashvant Sinhji Scholarship. Same year family shifted to 1893-95: (1) Lectures in various American cities on Jainism, Mumbai, erstwhile Bombay for higher education of VRG.
Hinduism and Buddhism under the aegis of 'School of Oriental Philosophy'. (2) Publication of the book 'An unknown Life of Jesus Christ' in Chicago. (3) Came to London - Lecture on Indian Philosophy in a meeting chaired by Lord Reay. In between attained Bar at Law at Britain but date and year is not known.
1884: Passed B.A. with hons. From Elphinstone College. He mastered 14 languages and had become scholar in all world religions, Indian economics, trade and commerce.
1885-86: Joined as an article clerk in the firm of Govt. solicitors Ms. Little, Smith, Friar and Nicholson. He and Mahatma Gandhi were together for their experiment on dietetics. And then Virchand Gandhi used to help Mahatma Gandhi understand Indian Law (Reference: Mahatma Gandhi's 'Story of My Experiments with Truth, part 2, chapter III, First Case) (Exact year / period of meet of Mahatma Gandhi and Virchand Gandhi is unknown)
1886: He succeeded in getting the tax per head abolished for pilgrims to Shatrunjaya Tirth. Later he also played instrumental role in resolving dispute of Shree Makshi Teerth.
1891: Played instrumental role in winning legal battle against an English man's tallow factory & getting tallow factory closed from Sammet Shikhar Tirth
1893: Originally Muni Atmaramji invited to represent Jainism at the 1893 Parliament of Religions. But as he couldn't visit, he deputed his disciple Virchand Gandhi.
1893: Captivated in 1893's Parliament of world relifions. Same year also acknowledged as interesting speaker from India at the world's first Real Estate Congress.
JAIN DIGEST
1894: From Chicago, Swami Vivekanandji wrote a letter to the diwan of Junagadh, Shree Haridas Desai and praised Virchand Gandhi Same year VRG translated a rare book 'Unknown life of Jesus Christ' from French to English.
1895: Returned to motherland, lectured under the aegis of Arya Samaj, Buddhiwardhak Sabha and other organizations. Founded the Hemchandracharya Class.
1896:
(1)Represented Mumbai province in Indian National Congress's Poona gathering. 2) On January 25th, accompanied Mark Twain on his visit to Mumbai and visited Byculla Jain temples. 3) Established Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI) under whose banner several Indian women went to the USA for higher studies 4) Second trip to America along with his wife upon an invitation. Later on hearing in America about the drought in India organized a Drought Relief Society and collected Rs. 40,000 and arranged for a shipment of food-grain to India.
1898: Returned to India for short time, was felicitated at a meeting where Justice Mahadev Govind Rande was the president. Till 1901 delivered 535 captivating speeches in USA and Europe on a plethora of subjects.
1901: Mysteriously health deteriorated, resulting lung hemorrhage. In July returned to Mumbai. On August 7 passed away at early age of 37.
The New York Times, 3rd September, 1893 edition under heading 'VISITORS FROM MANY LANDS; EAST INDIAN DELEGATES TO THE CONGRESS OF RELIGIONS'
2 The Sociology of Religious Movements - By William Sims Bainbridge
3 In New essays in religious naturalism, Volume 1990 By Creighton Peden, Larry E. Axel
4 In the gospel of Buddha according to old records - dr. Paul carus, Martin Verhoeven
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