Jain Spirit 2002 03 No 10

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

Page 17

JAINA NOT A MINORITY COMMUNITY
Rajasthan, India:
A disciple of Anuvrat Anushasta Acharya Shri Mahapragyaji reacted to the recent decision of the Rajasthan High Court about Jains not being a minority community. Being a minority community would entitle them to preferential treatment under the legal system. He argued that it is not right to call the Jain religion a branch of Hinduism. Hinduism is not a religion, it is a culture. It is a way of life and it depicts the nationality of India. Various epics and scriptures show explicitly that the word Hindu came from Sindhu and those who lived in Sindhu region were called Hindus; these later spread to other parts of the country. Thus, in the strict sense, every citizen of the country is a Hindu. There used to be only two types of traditions, the Shraman tradition whose followers were Jains, Buddhists and Ajivaks, and the Vedic tradition whose followers were Brahmans.
ANCIENT JAIN TEMPLES FOUND IN PURULIA
Gajpur, India:
Three temples featuring several black stone statues of the Jain Tirthankaras and believed to be dated between the tenth and twelfth century have recently been unearthed at Gajpur village, 14 km away from Purulia District Head Quarters in the State of Jharkhand. As the news spread to nearby villages and towns, a large number of people are visiting the ancient temples every day. It is believed that the local priest dreamt of a goddess who asked him to dig at the place where the statues were found. The District administration has taken over the security of the site.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
SEVEN YEAR OLD WINS NSF SPELLING BEE Maryland, USA, Gujarat, India: Samir Patel, a seven-year-old boy from Colleyville, Texas, and Anu Gollapudi, a 14year-old girl from Walnut Creek, California, won the US national spelling and vocabulary titles respectively in the finals of the championship sponsored by the North South Foundation based in Burr Ridge, Illinois. This was the foundation's ninth National Spelling Bee for children under 12, and the National Vocabulary Contest for those under 15 years of age. Fifty-one regional contest winners across the US competed in the finals. The foundation also conducted its second annual Brain Bee, a neuroscience contest. The Brain Bee is a question & answer competition about neuroscience for high school students based on a book called Brain Facts, published by the Society for Neuroscience. Winners of the first three places will receive scholarships of $2,000, $1,000 and $600 respectively, redeemable in their first year of college. The foundation conducted the program with the help of twenty regional volunteer coordinators across the US.
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Jain Spirit March May 2002
JAIN IDOLS DISCOVERED
Mahesana, Gujarat, India: Two idols of Shantinathji and Ajitnathji Tirthankaras were discovered during the pipeline installation at Ladol village in Vijapar area of North Gujarat. These six feet high marble idols are dated as Vikram Samvant 1308 and 1321 (A.D. 1365 & 1378). Four years ago local Jains found a few damaged idols. The find led them to carry out further searches on the site, where they excavated canopy and throne that were used in the temples. These antique pieces were moved to a nearby Jain temple in a ceremonial procession.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE New Delhi, India:
The election for the presidency of India is due to be held in July 2002 and the capital New Delhi is already abuzz with speculations. The list of seven candidates includes Rajya Sabha (Indian Syndicate) member Dr. Laxmi Mal Singhvi. "I don't believe in proposing my own candidature but on the other hand, it is the greatest Office to serve one's motherland." Another candidate mentioned is Mrs. Najma Heptulla, four times Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. She is a Muslim and a woman. No woman has become President in the past. It will be interesting to watch who wins.
RADIO MIRCHI FM STATION LAUNCHED Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India:
Vineet Jain, Managing Director of Times Group and C.E.O. of Entertainment Network India Ltd. (ENIL), launched Radio Mirchi in Ahmedabad, the second radio station after Indore. Mumbai, Pune and Delhi are likely to be the next in line. Radio Mirchi is aiming to be the constant companion' providing top class entertainment with lots of interactivity. To ensure that listeners get crystal clear CD quality sound, parent ENIL Company is investing in state-of-the-art technology.
LANGUAGES OF PEACE
Canada:
The Canada Post printed the word Peace in 21 Languages as identified in the Statistics Canada 1996 Census.
MARTYR DIES Worcester, UK:
On Monday, 5 November 2001, animal activists throughout Britain mourned the death of their most famous campaigner. Barry Horne died at the age of 49 whilst on his fourth hunger strike in Monkswood hospital, Worcester. The activist had been transferred to the hospital from Long Lartin high security prison after being arrested and convicted for several firebombing campaigns causing £3m worth of damage. Horne had signed a directive stipulating that he didn't want to be medically treated.
1200 CALVES RESCUED ON WAY TO SLAUGHTERHOUSE Rajasthan, India:
Prani Mitra Sansthan, the Jain animal welfare organization, was successful in preventing the slaughter of 1200 calves, taken from animal fairs at Pushkar, Gotan and Osia, by goods train from Gotan in Rajasthan to West Bengal. They have urged the state authorities and the railway administration to take severe action against the corrupt officials and staff for their collusion with the agents in the illegal and inhuman animal trade.