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JULY, 1971
Paramanand Bhai was born in a conservative but cultured and educated family on 18th June, 1893. His father Kunwarji Anandji Kapadia was a prominent leader of the Jaina community in Bhavnagar and had great influence in the religious, social and educational domain in that place. His uncle Motichand Girdhardas Kapadia was also an influential, religious, and social leader and was a pillar of strength to the Jaina community or the Jaina cause. Paramanand Bhai, while inheriting many a sublime traits of character, from both his father and uncle chose the path of a reformner and revolutionary. After passing B.A. and LL.B he worked for a while with his uncle in Bombay to become a lawyer but this would not contain his spirit. He took to the jewellery business to earn his living but that would not also go for very long. It was in the domain of thought and life of a social revolutionary where he found his real self. He would find the greatest delight and solace in fighting for a good cause and for serving the society. No temptation, no fear and no frown from any quarter could deter him from the path of a revolutionary. He often talked about the following poem of Charles Mackay, which had meant a great inspiration to him :
"You have no enemies, you say ? Alas, my friend thy boast is poor. He who has mingled with the fray Of duty, that the brave endure, Must have made foes. If you have none, Small is the work that you have done. You have hit no traitor on the hip, You've dashed no cup from the prejeured lip, You've never turned the wrong to right, You've been coward in the fight."
Referring to the above poem, Paramanand Bhai once wrote: “The thought behind this poem has remained a life-long inspiration for me. I have made it the aim of my life to fight against injustice, irreligiousity, untruth and bigotry. The animosity the poet talks about is not the animosity against an individual but the same is against the evil and sinful deeds. One who desires elevation in life cannot remain aloof from resistance and opposition. He said very emphatically a life without the strength of resistance and opposition is a life of weakness and im
potence.”
The Bombay Jain Yuvak Sangh which was started by him and his friends in 1929 continued to be the vehicle of his work upto the end of his life which came all of a sudden on 17th April, 1971. The two major
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