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THE JAINA GAZETTE.
I should like to suggest that this Association' should watch over the regular performance of puja, maintenance and repair of the temples here.
In the end. I have to say with much regret that the present status of our community is not a desirable one. There is internal strife. Some of our people say that they are fighting to live. But I say that the more our people quarrel and fight among themselves, the nearer they go to their grave. We are all followers of the doctrine of Ahimsa. But when we are not willing to be tolerant to our own brethren how can we be friendly to others ?
Gentlemen! You are living in the distant south. You are not fully acquainted with the north Indian languages and you are not aware of the internal quarrels amongst us. There is a difference of opinion even regarding the learning of languages. Some of our people say that English education is not advisable and some others say that Samskrit education is not necersary. But I would say that both of them are quite essential now-a-days. For all worldly purposes English education is indispensable. It is the language most widely spread in the world. The teachings of our religion can be let known to a great number of people through that language throughout the world. Samskrit education is necessary for a correct and first hand knowledge of our religion.
The Jains should organise themselves into a single body or Mahasabha, with branches in every province, district and village and work in the same way as the Congress does. Before I conclude I pray to Sri Gommatesvara that the Jains may unite into a single community and work together for their advancement in the educational, social and religious matters.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
