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NOTES AND NEWS
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spacious pandal erected in the midst of a large number of tents and sheds (see plate 16). The meeting began at 3-30 p.m., with devout prayer. Then Mr. M. L. Vardhamaniah, the Chairman of the Reception Committee delivered an interesting and impressive welcome address. Thereupon Danavir Rajyabhushan Sir Seth Hukumchandji Kt., the Merchat Prince of Indore (see plate 10) was unanimously voted to the Chair. The distinguished president then read his learned address in Hindi, a translation of which we publish in this issue (see p. 77) which was listened to carefully and punctuated with applause very often. Sir Seth Hukumchandji after touching upon the sanctity of Sravana Belgola and the superiority of Jaina Dharma, observes with great point and wisdom, regarding the work of repairing ruined temples
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"A substantial fund should be started for this. This can be easily done if an yearly contribution of Rs. 100 or Rs. 200 is made from the fund of temples which have an income of Rs. 2,000 or more every year. All should unani. mously support this proposal. The Swetambar Jains of Bombay have begun to pay an yearly contribution of Rs. 45,000 for 5 years for the purpose of repairing the temples in Mewar and Malva. They have also commenced work in the places. Our people also should copy this example."
The distinguished president winds up his scholarly address with an appeal for unity among all Jains with a view to maintain the sanctity of the Jaina sacred places unimpaired. He says.
"If any sect gives obstruction to the religious privileges of the other sect in the sacred places it will be doing an unrighteous thing............
"We should pray to our leaders to extinguish this fire in our house and to save it from destruction. It is feared that by this strife there will be obstructions to our work in the sacred places."
We hope these well-thought-out words coming as they do from the mouth of a distinguished person who occupies an highly influential position in the community must be a sufficient warning to Jains of all sects against repeating actions which tend to breed Kroda Parinama and to drag them to courts and councils only to deprive the community of lakhs of rupees which could otherwise be well spent in starting a central Jaina College which has been a longfelt desideratum among the Jains.
Then Mr. Ratanchand Chunilal, the secretary read the report of the Committee for the last year and with this the meeting rose up for the day.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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