Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

Author(s): Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh

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This is a true story. It happened in USA in 1985. A young Jain couple with two little kids and one more on the way was planning to move to a new town for a new job. Prior to moving his family the husband was staying in a hotel. He was given 'chauffeur' service to attend a monthly meeting of Jain families in town. He was happy to meet strangers and delighted to give his phone number to the president of the group whose forefathers had something to do with banking.
Blessing in Disguise!
by Praful & Kokila Doshi
On July 9, 1985 his pregnant wife flew in with two kids and her mother to this new town. On the same day she received a welcome call from the first lady named after a famous Indian actress. Also, she was happy to accept invitation to join picnic of Jain group on the following Sunday. On the following day, her husband and father had head-on collision with a cement truck, while uhauling to the new town. They were lucky to be alive due to seat belts. Her husband was unconscious for 45 minutes, had multiple fracture on the foot and lost his front three teeth. They were hospitalized for 7 days. Now the real story begins:
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Upon hearing the news, the first family immediately visited the shocked family and provided them support and strength.
One lady, completely new to them and known for many 'atthais', made puranpoli dinner and brought it to their home to serve.
The pregnant wife was advised not to drive, and the husband had a foot in full cast for four months and was unable to drive. The entire Jain community led by their "JAINA Ratna" leader came into full swing action. For next four months, the Jain community took care of all their driving activities; visits to doctors, grocery shopping, video renting, going to banks or monthly Jain meetings, taking kids to parks or the family to parties, even driving to the hospital at 2 a.m. for the delivery.
The family was overwhelmed with love, affection and the care of the entire Jain community. A model of real Jainism was observed and the bliss of true humanity was experienced.
Today, as that Jain community is celebrating twenty years of its existence, we, still that young couple, would like to take this opportunity to congratulate JSNC and to express our deep sense of gratitude. We thank you from the bottom of our heart.
Today, we do not remember pains of our accident but we cherish the gains we made with life long friendships in Raleigh. Our accident was certainly a blessing in disguise!
Long live JSNC!
Praful Doshi is an engineer and Kokila Doshi is a professor; they currently live in San Diego, California.
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This article is sponsored by Anil & Gita Shah.