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NOTES AND NEWS Ashram at Kunthalgiri, the Syadvad Maha Vidyalaya, and the Rishab Brahmacharya Ashram were suffering seriously on account of internal discord. He was glad that the Rajgir case had been compromised and wished that the Mahasabha squabble should also be settled amicably. On the question of inter. caste marriage hc regretted the unseemly language in which certain communal Journals indulged ; and suggested the formation of a committee to consider the question from various points of view and prepare a report specially dealing with local conditions and the particular communities which would be affected thereby. The question of widow marriage, he said, would be shelved completely and for ever, if genuine and efficient efforts were made to completely abolish early marriage, marriage of old men, and unsuitable marriages, and if widows were duly respected and properly educated. He regretted the indifference of the community in the above matters. He emphasised the utility of English education, side by side with Sanskrit learning, and religious training and instruction, and pointed out that all useful Jain institutions were established by English educated Jains and were being run on lines laid down by them, and the glory of Jainism was vastly propagated by English translations of the sacred Jain Philosophy. He further pointed out that the position which the Jain community occupied in public estimation was mainly due to the English educated Jains who occupied high and responsible places in the Country. He prominently pointed out the importance which the Parsi community had obtained because of English education and internal cohesion. He earnestly impressed the need for the establishment of Jain Colleges and a Jain University. He strongly advocated the pressing need for female education and for the propagation of Jair.ism by appointment of preachers and publication of tracts, and pamphlets, and for the reclamation, and reconversion of those who once were Jains. He discussed the evil customs and waste extravagance connected with domestic ceremonials, and advocated the high trinking and simple living which a Jain householder should adopt. Several resolutions in the light of the suggestions made in the Presidential Address were passed.
-Ajit Prasada Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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