Jain Spirit 2005 09 No23

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

Page 16

NEWS
SOAS TRIUMPHS
not act urgently and with vision and dedication. Any Jain interested in sponsoring their work should contact Dr. Peter Flugel on pf8@soas.ac.uk
Global Conference in London
work at SOAS and fund the Centre's activities. Prof. Menski emphasised the inter-disciplinary study at SOAS, where even a law student can do a course in Jainism and still qualify as a lawyer! The vision is to integrate Jain studies with other disciplines so that it becomes more accessible at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As a large proportion of Jains go to university, it is helpful to have continuing teaching and research on Jainism so that its study is sustained. Coming from a unique heritage of scholarship and research, such a tradition is in threat if Jains do
rofessor Phyllis Granoff from Yale University gave the keynote address at the 7th International Symposium
held by London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. Titled 'Jaina Law and the Jaina Community', the conference attracted scholars from all over the world, including India, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Norway. The event was funded by a special grant from the UK government.
THE WORLD CELEBRATES... THE WORLD!
The research on this subject is led by Prof. Werner Menski, who is a renowned expert on the Indian legal system. Other scholars who gave papers included Olle Qvanstrom (Lund), Torkel Brekke (Oslo), Bal Patil (Mumbai), Lekhraj Mehta (Jodhpur), Lynn Foulston ( Wales) and Frank Van den Bossche (Gent, Belgium). Prof. M. A. Dhaky talked about the problems of Jain history and criticised the widespread confusion created by ancient texts using different definitions of time and dates. Andrea Lutithle's paper on the Sangh Yatra to Shatrunjaya, as a way of reinforcing Shvetambara identity, generated a lot of interest. In the audience were Jains interested in scholarship, including Pathshala teachers.
take responsibility for a clean and healthy environment. Founded by the organisers of the first Earth Day in 1970, it is now the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than half a billion people of all different faiths and backgrounds. Earth Day was celebrated in an
estimated 174 countries in a variety of n the 22nd of April, the
environmental events including festivals, day that millions of Jains
workshops, open space cleanups, remembered the lessons
educational events and conferences. Mahavir left us, the core
Earth Day Network organised a series of Jain values of non
events including the largest violence and respect
environmental celebration were also being felt
ever held in Kiev, which around the globe by
built upon the growing non-Jains taking part in
democracy movement in the annual Earth Day. It
Ukraine. In addition, they was estimated that half
organised a conference in a billion people around
Israel that brought together the world celebrated
politically and ethnically the 35th anniversary of
opposed groups to work on Earth Day, according
water issues in the region. to Earth Day Network,
"The 35th anniversary of the group that supports
Earth Day was a huge and organises Earth
success," said Kathleen Day activities around
Rogers, President of the world each year.
Earth Day Network. This Earth Day Network's mission is to broaden the
year showed that the earth day
environmental movement environmental movement
network is alive and well and that worldwide and to
people around the world educate and mobilise
are engaged in making their people, governments, Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth
communities healthier, safer and corporations to
Day Network, speaks at Green DC Week with Mayor Anthony Williams and cleaner."
Network: www.earthday.net photo courtesy of Earth Day
The Centre for Jaina Studies at SOAS has become an active focal point for international research on Jainism. Dr. Peter Flugel, a lecturer and researcher, has been working very hard over a number of years to teach courses on Jainism and promote active research. A special meeting was held with leaders from the UK Jain community to encourage them to support the
STORY AB
TAMTAMA IAINCDIDIT
harat Shah is managing director of Sigma Pharmaceuticals, one of Britain's biggest
independent pharmacy wholesalers. He founded the company in 1981 with his two brothers, one of whom is Jain Spirit Director Manish Shah. The company has grown from a single pharmacy store to a thriving wholesale business employing over 300 people and producing a turnover
in excess of £190 million. They are now the third largest independent pharmacy wholesaler and have just announced themselves to be number 388th in the list of Europe's 500 fastest growing companies. This appeared in the 2004 Europe's 500, an annual listing endorsed by 3i, Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers and published by Europe's Entrepreneurs for Growth. Bharat commented. "We are delighted
2005 IS BHARAT SHAH OF SIGMA PHARMACEUTICALS' YEAR
www.ainelibrary.