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3. Their religion is entirely different from any other Indian Religion. It is a great blunder to call the Jains Hindus. The Jains do not recognise the Vedas or any of the Hindu Scriptures and do not believe in the teachings of any of the Hindu Rishis or Acharyas. How then can the Jains be called Hindus? The Jains are as distinct from the Hindus as the Mahommedans and the Christians are. We were under the impression that misconceptions regarding the Jains and Jainism were fast dying out. But we regret to find that the giant among them has not yet died. It is ruling the minds of certain Hindu leaders who seem to think that the separate column for Jains should be eliminated from the next Census Report and that they should be included among the Hindus.
4.
There have been many Emperors, Kings, able statesmen and administrators among the Jains. Chandragupta, Kumarapala, Kharavela, and Amogavarsha are some of the names known to history. Their reigns are known to have been glorious and beneficial to all.
5. The Jains have contributed no insignificant share to the civilisation of India and the progress of the Indian Nation. The Jain Community is like an indispensable limb in the body of the Indian Nation. As such in the interests of the Jain Community and the Indian Nation as well it is very necessary that the rights of the Jains should be protected.
6. The Jains form an important minority community. As such their rights and privileges deserve to be protected and preserved.
7.
There is a general animosity between the Jains and the Hindus. If the Jains will have no representation in the governing bodies of the country there will be no hope that their interests will be safeguarded.
We endorse the claims and suggestions for the acquisition of political privileges mentioned above. But we wish to suggest that the association should be formed in the immediate future and a working Committee consisting of energetic Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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