Jain Spirit 1999 07 No 01

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 11

2600TH ANNIVERSARY OF LORD MAHAVIR'S BIRTH
JAINS AROUND THE WORLD MOURN LOSS OF A DYNAMIC LEADER - ASHOK JAIN By Dr. Dhiraj Shah, President, JAINA
Eminent Jain leader, industrialist and media baron Ashok Jain died in Cleveland, OH on Feb 3, following complications arising from heart transplantsurgery. He was 65.
A devout follower of the Jain religion and respected leader of the Jain community was mourned by leaders and members of the Jain community around the globe. He was not only a pillar of the Jain community, but creator of the largest newspaper empire in India. He also owned the largest Jute mill in West Bengal and Rohtas industries in Bihar.
Prime Minister Vajpayee has made a statement announcing the commemoration of the 26th birth centenary of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami (2600 years after the birth of Lord Mahavir), including the organisation of a major inter-faith conference to mark this historic occasion. India will host this
major series of events in the year 2001. Jains from all over the world have been requested to take part in these celebrations. Present at the launch of the new Mahavir Aradhna Kendra in New Delhi were representatives from all the four major sects. The Kendra is a new development aimed to unite Jains and incorporates a museum of Jain Art, History and Culture. The speakers included Dr. L. M. Singhvi, former Indian ambassador to the UK, Mr. Deepchand Gardi, Acharya Vidyasagarji and Acharya Mahapragyaji. All the speakers emphasised the vital need for unity among Jains and congratulated the Prime Minister on his bold initiative. Mr. Vajpayee also announced his intentions to ban all mechanical slaughterhouses and the export of meat by India.
President K. R. Narayan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Congress party President Sonia Gandhi were among the host of politicians, leading industrialists, heads of media organizations and religious leaders who expressed grief over Jain's death and praised his contribution to the field of media and literature.
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National Institutions of the Jain community together held a memorial meeting on Feb 7 in New Delhi to pay homage to one of their community's most eminent members. The all India Jain revival Foundation conferred the community's highest honor - The JAIN RATNA - on Ashok Jain "in recognition of his services to the community and the nation." His memorable contribution as president of the 1993 Mahamasthikabhishekha committee would always be remembered.
JAIN ACADEMIES INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION (JAIN) IAIN ACADEMIES INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION (AIN)
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He took keen interest in JAINA's activities and received JAINA leaders when they were in New Delhi. His other major contributions included his work as a managing trustee of the Bharatiya Jnanpith, an organization devoted to the promotion of creative writings in Indian languages. The annual Jnanpith award by the organization is the most prestigious in the country,
A federation was formed of various Jain Academies on January 1, 1999 in Bombay in the presence of Dignitaries like Shri L. M. Singhvi, Shri Deepchandbhai Gardi, Shri C. N. Sanghavi, Shri Kumarpal Desai, Shri Nemubhai Chandaria and various JAINA leaders, Drs. Dhiraj Shah, Manoj Dharamsi and Pravin Mehta. The Academy has centers at De Montfort University, UK; Bombay University, Rajkot University and M. S. University -Baroda.
He was not only a Jain leader but also an eminent media personality, a businessman and a philanthropist. He was known for his social work and many charitable endowments.
HINDUISMIÉBA'
Adlai Stevenson once commented about a man and his contribution: "It is not the years in a life that counts; it is the life in the years lived". We will miss him.
MALAYSIA
We are grateful to "Hinduism Today" magazine
for pre-launch support and advice. For more information please visit:
http://www.hindu.org/ht/
For the first time this year, the Jains in Malaysia celebrated Mahavir Jayanti at their residence, with the Lord's Blessings and the support from friends and well wishers around the world. With this beginning they hope and wish to celebrate it every year now with different themes connected with Lord Mahavir's birth and life.
July-September 1999. Jain Spirit
Jain Sucation International