Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

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

Page 61

Visionary Philanthropy
holding her in high esteem and reverence, he imbibed all these centres. The foremost among them was to organise a sangh qualities from her. Not merely ritualistically, but a genuinely to travel to Sammet Shikhar, Bihar, which took months to religious person, he was so sympathetic and eager to complete. Cognisant of the hardships involved in this understand the plight of the needy and to know and help solve arduous journey, she went to great lengths to provide their problems that he was affectionately called Hathio Hakim. adequate facilities, amenities and also medical care to He donated liberally to religious and social causes. His mother ensure optimal comfort and enjoyment. This was an was very keen to build a temple, which he did, in the compound incredible feat especially in view of the fact that in those of their house known as
days the infrastructure was Hutheebhai's Wadi. He himself
extremely minimal, lacking harboured a more ambitious dream
even a basic outline. She of building a large temple outside
undertook similar trips with Delhi Gate, for which he had
sanghs to Palitana and other initiated the preliminary building
Jain centres in Gujarat. activities, but he died before the
Besides the Hutheesing construction work could
Temple, she built other commence.
temples in the city, like the Harkuvarba was well aware
Mandvi Pol, Patasa Pol and how dear this project was to her
Tankshal. More importantly, husband. Accordingly, she took it
she played a pioneering role in upon herself to ensure that his
pursuing and stimulating dream was realised, assuming
social welfare activities and personal charge of the whole
donating liberally to many venture. She held meetings with
projects, for example her keen the architects, contractors,
interest in the activities of the draftsmen and all others
Gujarat Vernacular Society concerned, and supervised the
which was established in progress of the day-to-day
1848. Her tremendous construction, keeping a keen eye
dedication to philanthropic on every detail of the structure.
activities led her to establish Her work schedule often ran late
the first Civil Hospital in into the night. It took two years Manastambha, Pillar of Respect at the
Ahmedabad, for which she and cost eight lakh rupees to
Hutheesing Temple, Ahmedabad
donated Rps. 50,000. complete the Hutheesing Temple, which became one of the Especially concerned with women's issues and realising the most prominent landmarks of the city, and eventually an potential of education in the emancipation process, she took important tourist attraction. The deity's installation ceremony it up as a mission. She established the Harkuvarba and took place on Maahaa Sud Panchami in Vikram Savat 1903, Jyotiba Kanyashala in 1855, a well-equipped institution (1847 A.D.) This turned out to be a historic event not only for with faculties including history, geography, mathematics, the Jain community but for the entire city of Ahmedabad, Sanskrit and Gujarati, and facilities for various co-curricular attested by the sheer magnitude of people who attended the activities. She even launched a teachers' training college function. Besides the local people and Jain luminaries, for women, and initiated several other welfare schemes, representatives of the Jain sanghs and prominent social workers including some especially designed to ease the traumatic across the country attended the function. The entire area from existence of widows of that period. Delhi Gate to the Mughal palace in Shahibag, named Hathipura In appreciation of her contributions to society, the after the family, vibrated with life and brisk activities as British Government conferred upon her the title of Net thousands of tents were pitched with the assistance of the city Sakhavati Bahadur and presented her with a gold medal. collector to accommodate the hoards of devotees and invitees. Even the Gaekwad of Baroda, now Vadodara, honoured her Harkuvarba saw to it that all necessary amenities like boarding, with the title of Chobdar. Harkuvarba Shethani was a lodging, food, water supply and sanitation were adequately visionary who totally immersed herself in selfless work and provided. The grand success of an event of such gigantic was able to see her many dreams come true. In short, proportions brought into focus yet another facet of her dynamic Harkuvarba possessed incredible qualities of head and heart personality, namely her organisational capability.
of the kind with which few human beings are blessed. Harkuvarba's commitment to religion was no mere reflection of her husband's zeal. It was a very personal involvement. Like her husband she was resolutely devoted to Purnima Hutheesing is a descendant of Sheth and Harkuvar performing the rituals of visiting numerous Jain pilgrimage Hutheesing
September - November 2003 . Jain Spirit
59