Jain Spirit 2001 12 No 09

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

Page 13

GLOBAL NEWS
OHIO SENATE CELEBRATES
In the Ohio Senate, on behalf of the Jain Center of Central Ohio, Columbus, in celebration of the 2600th Birth Anniversary of Lord Mahavir, Samanishri Akshaypragyaji and Samanishri Sanmatipragyaji of Jain Vishwa Bharati, Houston, Texas, offered their opening prayer of Namokar Mantra in English and Sanskrit at the invitation of the State Senator and the President of the Ohio Senate. In its two hundred year history, this was the first time that Jains recited a prayer for healing, peace, non-violence and love for all. Tributes were paid for the Jain philosophy of ahimsa. A resolution was passed in honour of both Samanijis for their work in spreading the message of non-violence and peace throughout the world. Present in the Senate Gallery were Ohio's first lady, Mrs. Hope Taft; Mr. August Pust, Director of Multicultural Affairs and International relations from the office of the Governor; and many Jain leaders from Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron and Cleveland regions. There were representatives of the Sikh,
Senator Bruce Johnson addressing
Jain delegates in the Ohio Senate Islam, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities and the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio. More than 300 people attended this joyous occasion, which included firefighters, police officers and members of the Jain and other Indian communities.
The Ohio Senate paid tribute to the uniformed heroes. Dr. Tansukh Salgia offered his deepest and heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families of the tragic and gruesome attack on New York City and Washington, D.C. on 11 September 2001.
Virchand Raghavji Gandhi Remembered
propagated the Jain dharma in France, Germany and England.
He died at the young age of 37 on 7 August 1901. His main goal in life was to serve the Jain community and to promote non-violence all over the world. A Virchand Raghavji Gandhi Scholarship was started this year and the five award winners were:
The year 2001 will mark the death centenary of Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, the first Jain to travel to America. He was invited to attend the first ever Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1893. He had mastered 14 languages, was the first Jain to qualify as a barrister in London and was the first elected secretary of the Jain Association of India and
1 - Pravinben Mehta, M.Phil. Amdavadni Chaitya Paripati 2 - Arunkumar Mishra, M.Phil. Jainism 3 - Ketna Babaria, M.Phil. Jain Darshan and Achar 4 - Pravin Shah, M.Phil. Jain Philosophy 5 - Jawaharlal Shah, Ph.D. Jainology
December 2001 - February 2002. Jain Spirit 9 For Private & Personal Use Only