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Yu
al. 24-6-31
To,
The local authorities of the Hindu બાએ પ્રેસિડેન્સી હિંદુ સભાને પત્ર:Mahasabha having been moved on this point, The Bombay Presidency Hindu Sabha are also communicating to their agents in Custom House Ronil Hari Building, Fort, Mombasa supporting our view point and a Bombay, 80th May 1931. copy of the said cominunication is also en. closed herewith for your information.
R. M. Shah Esquire, The Hindu Mahasabha and Pundit
Hon. Secretary, Shri Jain Samiti, Madan Mohan Malaviya strongly maintain
P. O. No. 21. MOMBASA that the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists are
(British East Africa) the three subdivisions of the one Aryan race and a reference to this fact was made Dear Sir, in the speeches made at the Session of the The Bombay Presidency Hindu Sabha said Sabha held in Benares in the Samvat was much astonished when it was brought year 1979 (copy whereot being locally to its notice that a section of the Hindus unavailable could not be sent ). Not only at Mombası is opposed to the inclusion of this but both Jainism and Buddhisin are the local Jains in the Hindu Community. as truly Indian religions as Hinduism which
hich This attitude is not only entirely opposed is not the case with the Moslem, Parsi or
to the prevailing public opinion in India Christian religions.
but also determinental to the interests of It may also be stated that in some the Hindu Community as a whole. This parts of Gujarat & Kathiawar even now Sabha hopes that this is merely due to the instances of intermarriages between Jainsignorance of that section regarding the Vaishnavas and others are t, be found in historical development of the Hindu Society numbers and in some cases Jains and Vai. for many centuries past and not to mischi. shnavas form one caste such as Dasha evious machinations of some interested Shrimali in the district surrounding Juna- hidden hand. gadh and Mangrol.
Hinduism is a ervy broad term compIt is really a matter for pits and rising various sects such as Sanatanists, the regret for the section of Hindus there-alth Arya Samajists, the Jains the Sikhs, the ough they are our brethern-they still Buddhists, the Lingayats and others. The persist in such squabbles in these days of Hindu Mahasabha, the largest all-India enlightenment, progress unity and solidarity.
Hindu organization, has made this point We believe the efforts of the Hindu clear at the very outset in its objects when Mahasabha will correct their attitude if it
a defining the a defining the term
term
"Hindu
"Hindu." Great and still be persistent.
learned leaders like Pundit Madan M. han
Malaviya, the late Lala Lajpatrai and SwaThe answers therefore to your four mi Shraddhanandji were resp nsible for this querries inorrler are. (1) No (2) By race defination which was afterwards endorseil YES. (3) No (4) By race JAINS are more than once in the sessions of the Hindus and the Government of India with Hindu - Maha-Sabha. Its c rrectness was upto a view to let the Community know its this time never questioned either by the position has granted seperate columns in Orthodox Hirdus or by the Jains. Hundreds the census returns.
of Jains were allowed to enroll themselves We shall thank you to let us know,
as Members of the Hindu Mahasabha. The by return mail, the result of your endeavours. late Mr. Purshottamdas Shah, who was
mercilessly murdered by Mohammadans in Yours faithfully. the Godhra riots of 1928 was a Jain and
(Sd) Mohanlal B. Jhaveri. At the same time President of one of the Encs. 4. Resident General Secretary.
(અનુસંધાન પૃષ્ઠ ૯૨ ઉપર જુએ.).
