Jain Spirit 2004 03 No 18

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

Page 17

NEWS | 15
Ahimsa At Westminster
Ahimsa or non-violence is the first and foremost precept of the Jain philosophy. To celebrate this principle, the Institute of Jainology organised a celebration in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, at the House of Commons, Westminster, London on 14 October 2003. The event was hosted by Mr. Stephen Pound, MP, Chairman of the Labour Parliamentary Friends of India. Mr. Pound welcomed the audience to the Ahimsa Day celebration, the first of its kind at Westminster. A short video film, Quest for World without Violence was then screened showing several Nobel Peace Laureates recounting their experiences of having used non-violence to support their cause. This included Shimon Peres, Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Finally, excerpts from Mahatma l Gandhi's life were shown followed by the Indian national anthem sung and played by major artists in India.
Mr. Peter Luff, MP, Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India, described some of his impressions on a recent visit to India. Professor Richard Gombrich, Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the Balliol College, Oxford, and H.
E. High Commissioner of India, Mr Ronen Sen were the other two speakers. Dr Singhvi's subject was the influence of Jainism on Mahatma Gandhi. He suggested that the Jain tradition was far older than the 6th century BC, but might be nine to ten thousand years old.
Professor Gombrich began with the statement: "Aggression and violence are not commended by any of the world's great religions or ethical systems." He pointed out that the Indian tradition of ahimsa, which began with Jainism, proved that non-aggression was by no means the same thing as passivity. Mr. Mahesh K. Shah and Mr. Harshad N. Sanghrajka, both Trustees of the Institute of Jainology gave informative talks on the activities of the Institute and the Jain Diaspora, respectively. The programme was attended by several distinguished guests, including Lord Corbett, Lord Bhatia, Baroness Flather, Ministers of State Rt Hon Tony McNulty and MPs Barry Gardiner, Tom Watson and Andrew Dismore.
Visit the Institute of Jainology website at www.jainology.org
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New Delhi: Cruelty in Overdrive Hospital Named After Mahavir "Is nothing sacred
anymore?"
MADE
IN INDIA
A newly established 200-bed hospital in the Peetampura region of Delhi has been named as Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital. Mrs. Sheela Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi had made this announcement recently. The Jain community of Delhi was highly pleased by this announcement.
The representatives of Bhagwan Mahavir 2600th Janm Kalyanak Mahotsava Samiti, including Shri Salekh Chand Jain, Shri Anand Prakash Jain, Shri Swaroop Chand Bardia, Shri Sukh Raj Sethia and Shri Shanti Jain and others called upon the Chief Minister and thanked her profusely, showing their gratitude for this announcement. This hospital has been furnished with most modern medical equipment and its capacity is expected to increase soon to 500 beds. Jain Education International 2010_03
conduct, PETA argues, but a means to enhance consumer choice and respect religious diversity. Jains, for example, oppose the use of leather items in upholstery and clothing because it conflicts with the principle of ahimsa towards all forms of life. PETA India points out that it takes the skins of about four cows to produce the interior of one car. DaimlerChrysler's Maybach requires seven cowhides and it takes fifteen to equip one Rolls Royce.
Sharon Rahamim of PETA India points out that the country has a
strong cultural tradition of respecting The Indian branch of People for animal life, and that there is a the Ethical Treatment of Animals promising worldwide move towards (PETA) is campaigning for
cruelty-free products. leather-free interiors for luxury cars, such as Mercedes Benz, BMW For information on how to help get and Rolls Royce. This would not only leather out of cars, visit the PETA be an ethical decision promoting right I website: www.PETA.org