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SAKDALPUTRA SHRAVAK AND OURSELVES 265
Ah! the tyranny, we have closed all doors of Moksha for them. They are not only morally degraded, but are also materially degenerated, and socially out-casted. Hindu Society and with it the Jains call them the Sudras II But who are these Sudras. They are as much followers of Rikhab and Mahavir as the so called Jains of to-day, even greater and dearer to the heart of the Lord. But we do not seem to realise that, otherwise, how, there could be six crores of untouchables, and eight crores of so called depressed classes people in this Land of Mahavir and Buddha. Is it not a blot on the bright chapters and bright days of Jainism? How such a thing could be possible in this Land of Mahavir? The utter ignorance, the idleness and selfishness of the present day Jains can only be held responsible for this.
The Jain Community is one of the richest in India. The Christians who are foreigners, and hostile to our ideals and aspirations have organised one hundred and thirty seven Salvation Army quarters in India, they have sent eighteen thousand seven hundred and seventy six padris to this country: they have sent fourteen hundred doctors, who have started four hundred hospitals; They have started ninety nine printing presses; They are running fifty newspapers, and have started fifty colleges and six hundred and ten schools. You will perhaps ask me, what for? This is all to deprive us of fourteen crores of these so called depressed and Achut brothers of ours. Will the Jains also in whose body there constantly runs the blood of Ahinsa rise to the occasion, and extend their hands of love and embrace these people. I will appeal to them in the name of our Lord to cease to look upon these people with the eye of Hikarat. The Jains will make a great name in the future history of India, if they could play their part in the name of the Lord to better the lot of these poor people.
In this way they will also be increasing their population, which forms a negligible minority (2) of the population of India. May I request my brothers to start a mission for the service of these long forgotten brothers. We have slept for long: We have quarreled amongst us for long; We have
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
