Jainism Abroad

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 12

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The reason for not replying to you could easily be grasped by you. You will greatly excuse me if I elaborate the same when you are insisting on my reply.
As you know I had unbound regards (and trust) for you all after my first acquaintance. Having the same feelings, I reposed faith in yours and ................. and other friends' invitation and words to come there to perform in Summer 1988. I also asked for Ticket and was told when I booked expensive International Trunk Calls from here. But I was told that my expenses will be met from New York when I come there.
When I reached New York at my own expenses (after Leicester Jain Centre Ceremony), and again when I trunk called thrice from there, my programme of Miami was cancelled by your people which were not only a shock and loss financially but permanently....! Firstly, I had to put my New York friends and kind hosts into difficulties for about 20 days for being their uninformed and uninvited guest as I had only come there from London early for your programme and had to go back to London for the pre-planned Paryushana Programme of September 88. In fact for your programme only! had started early from B'lore via Leicester, otherwise I would have come to London for Paryushana Programme in September only.
But I was greatly disappointed by all Miami friends including kind .............and all those whom you, yourself had suggested. It was very kind of Shri ..........(whom you were criticizing!) who turned to be memorable, generous person in those days of set back that risking his job also, he gave me shelter! Though our KARMAS only, but it was during this hanging Miami-New York visit that our dear daughter passed away at Bangalore ! Again I repeat, I do not blame anyone except our Karmas, but the cancellation of the programme by your people (whether was it a betrayal of faith or not, is up to you to introspect and decide) gave me reason for painful pathoes for ever.....!
Your experience has taught me to NOT to go abroad now onwards without ALL in our hands here. Moreover, you yourself did not care to visit me at London when I came there again TO KEEP MY PROMISE IN THE DAYS OF DAUGHTER'S DEATH in sympathy also and just sent a phone call and a letter.....! Well, may God bless you all, I curse none.
In these circumstances, if I count for my unrepayable loss of daughter's death and expenses met from London to New York and New York to Bangalore and halting at New York, will you be able to meet the same and pay? I write this because you so repeatedly asked me to return your petty postage expenses (postal stamps etc.,) back!! Is this not too much for the people like you in whom I had so much faith ? However, if you insist, I shall send your postage stamps back. Your blank Video cassettes were already managed to be sent to you from New York when I was there and had informed you at London and Miami also.
Kindly excuse me again if I am wounding your feelings by this unusual letter. But the pain and pathoes will remain with me. On the contrary I could not and will not forget New York friends: Dr. Poptani, Sri Jasvant Shah, Shri Bachubhai & Hasmukh Shah, Smt. Smitaben and several others who out of great generosity helped me to buy my return ticket from New York to Bangalore since I had to go back to London and return to Bangalore and for which London people had sent the Return Ticket.
Regards and Apologies, Your Sincerely, Pratapkumar J. Toliya.
Copy for kind information to Kind Shri Poptani Kaka, Jain Centre, New York, Encl: True Perfect Self story of 'HIMALAYAN BERTRAYAL'
HONOUR BEFORE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
(Cleveland, Deepavali 24th Oct '81)
INTRODUCTION OF PROF. PRATAPKUMAR TOLIYA BY Dr. SHARMA