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NEWS IN BRIEF
PRESIDENT CALLS ON INDIA FOR NON-VIOLENCE AND TOLERANCE DELHI, INDIA Addressing the nation through the radio and TV channels on 14 August 2002, the eve of the anniversary of Indian Independence, the President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called upon the nation to protect the eternal values of ahimsa. Mentioning the recent communal clashes at Gujarat, he said that any act against the protection of the traditional Indian values of non-violence and religious tolerance could prove disastrous to the nation's secular structure. Addressing members of the Parliament and legislative assemblies, he called upon them to be role models for the younger generation, the future citizens of India.
BHADRESHWAR JAIN TEMPLE DEMOLISHED IN GUJARAT GUJARAT, INDIA The world-famous Jain Temple of Bhadreshwar was recently demolished as the structure had been rendered unsafe due to the extensive damage from the earthquake in January 2001. The main temple, which was nearly 2,500 years old, used to attract people from all over the country. "It is shocking not only for Jains but everybody in Kutch." says Vanechand Mulchand Doshi, the Manager of the Seth Vardhman Kalyanji Trust, which manages the Bhadreshwar Temple. The demolition work has been completed and a temporary arrangement has been made from where pilgrims can worship at the shrines of Mool Nayak Bhagwan Mahavir and Bhagwan Parshvanath. It is reported that over 146 icons, most of them between 500 and 2500 years old, could be saved from damage. Despite the fact that the temple does not exist anymore now, pilgrims have been visiting the place from across the country for worship. The Bhadreshwar Temple Managing Committee has taken up the project to reconstruct the Temple as early as possible.
ACHARYA ADMONISHES POLITICIANS JUMPING ON THE NON-VIOLENCE BANDWAGON GUJARAT, INDIA On 25 August 2002, at an Ahimsa Yatra function in Gandhinagar, Gujarat the Terapanth sect leader Acharya Mahapragya admonished politicians: "Who is a competent political leader? One who follows the principle of non-violence. We should not adopt the path of violence for petty political gains.” Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, who had come to seek Acharya Mahapragya's blessings, was present to hear this critical remark. In her speech at the same function, Mrs. Gandhi appreciated the task of social integration taken up by the Acharya. In turn, the Acharya expressed his pleasure at Mrs. Gandhi's participation in the Ahimsa Yatra.
The 83-year-old Acharya Mahapragya is also reported to have offered a word of advice to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in August 2002. The Acharya asked the Chief Minister to cancel his Gaurav Yatra programme, which was to begin on 3 September from Phagvel village in Kheda district, or at least to ensure there would be no violence during the trip. The Acharya is said to have conveyed this to Mr. Modi in a letter dispatched on 24 August. Furthermore, the Acharya is reported to have spoken out against the "current communally-surcharged atmosphere in Gujarat" when the Chief Minister met him on 23 August at the Preksha Vishwas Bharati Kendra at Koba, near Gandhinagar.
SPREADING AMITY, LOVE AND COMPASSION IN RAJASTHAN RAJASTHAN, INDIA Karuna International, the humanitarian organisation wholly devoted to spreading vegetarianism, non-violence, compassion, love and tolerance, has opened its first centre in Rajasthan, in the city of Jodhpur. There are already 331 centres, called Karuna Clubs working with children in schools in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Karuna's Head Office is in Chennai. The inauguration of the Jodhpur Karuna Club, founded by Jains, was held on 14 July 2002.
14TH CENTURY PARSHVANATH STATUE FOUND MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA A statue of Lord Parshvanath, thought to date from the 14th century, has been found at the base of the river Shivna near Mandsore town in Madhya Pradesh. The stone statue, according to archaeologist Kailash Chandra Pande, is about 800 years old and belongs to the Jain Digambara sect. The statue is to be installed in the Yashodharman museum for public viewing. Along with this one, two other statues of the Hindu deities Ganapathi and Vishnu-Laxmi have also been recovered and have been placed in the same museum.
A FESTIVAL FIRST IN DUBAI DUBAI, UAE Dubai's Jain community marked the Shvetambara Paryushan festival by erecting a makeshift temple in a public hall for eight days. Over this time, a programme of daily meditation and worship was organised, as well as activities for children. A famous Jain singer and his band were flown in from Mumbai, India especially for the festival. The average daily attendance of approximately 500 people was a first for Dubai, where such a high turn out has never been experienced before. With the festival of fasting and forgiveness ending on 10 September, the ritual of breaking the fast was organised for the following morning. This event was another first in Dubai, and this too attracted a large number of community members.
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Jain Spirit . September - November 2002
in Education International 2010 03
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