Jain Journal 1969 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 10

104
JAIN JOURNAL
took the opportunity to acquaint the American public outside it at Chicago, Boston, New York and Washington with the various religious currents flowing in India of which Jainism is decidedly the oldest.
A BRIEF LIFE SKETCH
Born in Mahuva, a small town near Bhavnagar in Saurastra on August 25, 1864, Virchand took his B.A. degree as an Elphinstonian
ne University of Bombay in 1884 and joined a Solicitor's firm. But destiny had not earmarked him for the legal profession. His field was service to the society at large and this chance came the same year when he was made honorary General Secretary of the Jain Association of India which was established in 1884 in Bombay with the object of bringing the Jainas of India nearer together and to organise them. But the greatest moment of his life came when he set sail for the U.S.A, as a delegate to the World Congress of Religions to represent Jainism. This opportunity came in the following manner. The actual invitation to attend the Congress was extended to Atmaramji Maharaj. But since Atmaramji was a holy monk, an Acarya, it was not possible for him to go out of the country against the injunctions of religion and yet he would not like Jainism to go unrepresented. At last the choice fell on no less a person than Virchand who was already well-known for his brilliance and knowledge of Jaina philosophy and religion. Vircband aptly proved his worth.
Virchand was not merely an able exponent of Jainism ; he could freely roam over the vast arena of comparative religion. Himself a polyglot, knowing as he did thoroughly as many as fourteen languages, he was vigorous and effective in speech and expression. No wonder then that Virchand would make the greatest impression on his audience. As a contemporary American wrote about him, “A number of distinguished Hindu scholars, philosophers and religious teachers attended and addressed the Parliament, some of them taking rank with the highest of any race for learning, eloquence and piety. But it is safe to say that no one of the oriental scholars was listened to with greater interest than was this young layman of the Jainas as he declared the Ethics and Philosophy of his people.”
During his first visit Virchand stayed in the U.S.A. for about two years, returning to India in 1895. At the pressing request from his western friends, he sailed for America for the second time in 1968,