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The Jaina Philosophy
When I first came to know in this country from Missionary sources that in India women threw their babies into the Ganges and that people threw themselves under the car of Juganauth, doubted whether in the blackest and most intolerant days of the Christian Church any set of villainous priests ever invented more barefaced falsehoods or malicious slanders. It was a Missionary of the Christian Church who threw a fire-brand in the peaceful assembly of the Parliament of Religions and attracted the representatives from India in the very house of their and his hosts. It is such persons who give you glowing reports of Christian Missions in India. They claim that they have raised the moral standard of the people, the position of the women, the religious ideas of the masses and what not. I shall now examine their claims.
What was the moral status of the Hindus before the outerbarbarians invaded India? If we examine the Greek, Chinese, Persian or Arab writings before the time of the Mohammedan invasion we will find in them the description of the true national character of the Hindus, i. e., the regard for truth and justice. Aryan in the 2nd century, Hiouen thsang the famous Buddhist pilgrim in the 7th century and Macro Polo in the 13th century have each written in highest terms of praise of the Hindu Character, of their truthfulness, honesty and the straight forwardness of their administration and justice.
What Government either in Europe or America can justly lay claim to this virtue? The Mohammedan Geographer, Idrisi, says. "The Indians are naturally inclined to justice and never depart from it in their actions. Their good faith, honesty and fidelity to their engagements are well-known and they are so famous for these qualities that people flock to their country from every side." In the face of this statement - what has Christian civilization done for India? I might quote to you passage after passage in admiration
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