Book Title: Jain Philosophy
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

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Page 306
________________ 277 lities of life. It is possible that what I now say for my own people on this subject will surprise a few of my hearers, but I am proud and honored to be able, to say that this prime requisite of human progress, the education of the masses, is a doctrine held and taught and enforced, and practiced by the Jain community to which I belong, from the very beginning, as is proved by our history, and without interruption. In respect of my Hindu people. Other than Jaips, including the Brahmins and the believers in the Vedas, candor requires that I should say that with the exception of panicular schools for the education of Brahmins only, this doctrine has not obtained since the innovation of priestly exclusiveness, which made the privilege of education the right of one class only. This admission, which I freely make, ought not to weaken what I have said on this subject on behalf of the Jain community. It was a member of the Jain community who contributed 400,000 rupees for the purpose of erecting a university building and the creation of a library in the same, in the city of Bombay; this same gentleman endowed the University of Calcutta for purposes of scholarship with 200,000 rupees. The munificence on the part of this same gentleman and many others of our community, has established schools in different parts of our country for the education of girls as well as boys, which education is also free. It is the hope which has been bequeathed to us by our forefathers, and which is also a factor in Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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