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6
Apprehensions.
The following apprehensions are likely to arise in this connection.
1. Will not the Jains lose the sympathy of the Hindus in demanding separate rights. The reply is 'No,' if they interpret their motives judiciously. Whilst the Leaders of the country have failed to make the Mohamadans give up their demands of separate communal representation, the only way to achieve this lies in making the various factions of the Hindu Community (viz.-Sikhs, Jains, Untouchables, NonBrahmans etc.) demand special representation for them separately like Sikhs in the Punjab, so that the Mohammadans may not be able to claim a representation far in excess of their numerical strength, and be ultimately forced to surrender their claim for it.
2. Will communal representation be maintained in the future constitution of the country? Most propably so. The protection of the claims of religious and linguistic minorities has been recognised by the League of Nations as an obligation of international concern and the League of Nations has also made it a condition of the admission to its membership of a State that it should satisfy the League on the subject of minority protection. Britain, as a member of the League, is bound to safeguard the rights of all religious and linguistic minorities which may seek such protection.
3. Will each of the three sects of the Jain Community claim separate representation for itself? Certainly, not. Such sectarian exclusiveness becomes manifest in those spheres where sectarian interests are involved, such as propagation of religion according to the beliefs and scriptures of the one sect or the other. But in legislative and other public bodies the Jain representatives will look to the interests of the entire Jain Community, and not of any one particular sect. Hence there need be no fear of any disunion on this point.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
