Jain Spirit 2002 06 No 11

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

Page 15

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY COMMITS
SUICIDES
Arihant Jain, an eight-year-old introvert boy, studying in third standard at a Dehradoon school committed suicide on the last day of his vacation because he did not want to return to his residential school, reported the Hindustan Times. According to the Delhi Police, Arihant is the youngest person to have committed suicide in the city. He was
spending his vacation with his family at Btheir house in Vishwas Nagar in East Delhi. Balesh Jain, Arihant's father, who runs a computer institute, enrolled his son at the residential school last July. The incident reportedly occurred at 3 pm on Sunday, when Arihant was alone at home with his mother. "However, Seema, his mother be intercepted him," said DCP East Manoj Lall. "But when Seema went to her room to get dressed, Arihant found a rope and hung himself in the courtyard." The boy's neck had ligature marks.
The police have registered a case of suicide. "One morning, as his parents were helping his younger sister prepare for her school, he complained that he missed his parents' attention. He was an introvert and did not mix around much. with the other children in the neighbourhood," said a police officer. "Even on his return, he spent most of the time playing with his younger sister inside the house."
Neighbours expressed their shock over the boy's death. "He was like any child in the locality. We never noticed any sign of aggression or disturbed behaviour," a neighbour said. A noted psychiatrist in the city commented, "Though this is an unusual incident, instances of depression are not uncommon among children. In this case, since the child was small, it appears that he missed his parents and was not able to communicate it properly to his family."
OBITUARIES
Mahasati Sugankunwarji passed away at Beawar on 26 December 2001 after a protracted illness.
Jain Acharya Vijay Indradinn Suriswarji, 97, passed away on 16 January 2002 at Ambala City, Punjab. He accepted the Jain order at the early age of 17. He studied Hindi, Sanskrit and Prakrit, and was fluent in many other languages. His Guru Vijay Samudra Surishwarji bestowed him with the title of Acharya in 1971. His contribution to Jain literature and society was immense. He will always be remembered for his role in developing backward communities in Gujarat, spreading education through. schools and colleges.
Aryika Suparshwamataji, disciple of Acharya Vardhmansagarji passed away on 28 December 2001 at Dhariavad, Rajasthan. She took a vow for a twelve-year Samadhi and she observed fasting during the last Chaturmas period by consuming limited amounts of apple and water only once every three or four days.
Aryika Vipulmatimataji died on 12 December 2001 at Dhariavad, Rajasthan in the holy presence of her Guru, Acharya Vardhmansagarji, after 27 years of a life of austerity, selfrestraint and religious fervour. She had been accepting only limited amounts of food during the four months of Chaturmas monsoon and for the last twelve days she was living only on water.
Panditratna Udaimuniji, 74, left for his heavenly abode at Indore. He was a great scholar and had served the cause of his religion for half a century.
Acharya Vijay Kalapurna Surishwarji died on the morning of 16 February. Cremation (agnisanskar) was performed at Bhaktamar Mandir, Shankheshwar, Gujarat in the evening of 18 February 2002.
GLOBAL NEWS
Acharya Kalpurna Surishwarji, 80, passed away on 16 February 2002 at Kosholav, Jalore. The Acharya commanded great respect from everyone and hundreds of people thronged to have his darshan. He was an apostle of austerity and spiritualism. He worked relentlessly for public consciousness about spiritualism, devotion, righteousness and liberation. He was born to the Loonkar family at the village Phalodi, near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. His body was taken in a chariot by his followers to Shankheshwar, Gujarat, which was his favourite place of devotion and worship.
Sadhvi Vishuddhmatimataji's, 72, last rites were performed on 22 January 2002 at a Nandanvan pilgrimage centre, Udaipur, Rajasthan. She was a very learned scholar and had written about 36 books. On 17 January 1990, she took a twelve-year Samadhi Sallekhana Vrata from Ajeetsagarji Maharaj. On 16 January 2002, after consuming only limited amount of food, she gave up water. Acharya Vardhmansagarji and 33 other sadhus were present at the time of her Samadhi. She was cremated on the same day at 10 am with more than ten thousand people attending.
Two 105-year-old Jain widows passed away together at Manipuri in U.P. as it had been their wish. They were extremely close to each other. Their dead bodies were placed on a common platform and were cremated together. They were Mrs. Devi, wife of Rangilal Jain and Gunmala, wife of Ugrasen Raparia. They had announced earlier that since they had lived together for so many years, sharing their happiness and sorrows, they would also die together.
June-August 2002 Jain Spirit
13