Jainism Abroad

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

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Veg. Kitchens, would have served Rosogollas with his abundant love and not have allowed aspiring students like you to go back from here....." With these words he virutally wept like a child, I was moved, postponed my going away for the time being. Tried to wait for the betterment. My kind Hindi Professor Dr. Shiv Nathji also prevented me from leaving, since, according to him, arrangements for my meals before the Sunset were made and he used to say that, "Because of the people like you staying here, the atmosphere of University-type-Santiniketan will improve" and I stayed for some time more. Arrangements of strict Vegetarian food and Before Sunset Meals were all nicely done, but that odour of Nonveg. kitchen and its existence on the pious soil of Santiniketan compelled me to unwillingly quit it as a student, since was not capable enough though supported by several like-minded colleagues and above wellwishing professors, to stop this ill. Personally I succeeded in making all arrangements for me and other students like me, but collectively I failed to stop the Non-Vegetarian Kitchen over there, which, I gather, still exists as a blot on that pious land of peace and nonviolence, SANTI NIKETAN.....! What a contrast, What a painful paradox......!!
During my short Shantiniketan stay full of learnings and acquiring as much knowledge as I could, apart from the above uneasy times, I remember some humorous moments with my student friends over there from Bengal, who used to care for me and worryingly and humourously ask me, "APONI RATRI BHOJON KOREN NA, CHAY KHABEN NA, CIGARETTE KHABEN NA, TO AR KHABEN KI? KI KORE ROHIBO PAREN...... JIBIBIO PAREN?" (How will you be able to survive when you don't eat at night and don't consume tea, etc., ?")
And I used to jokingly reply to them, "Dekhen, Ami Diner Soorjer Sakshir Shobay Khaben : Phol-Fruits, Chabol-Roti, Doodh-Mishti Shobay..... Tar por Ami Rosogolla Khaben.... Tomar eta dirty Kondo-mool, Chay-Cigarette, Mans-Masha (fish) Khabar Chij Acche ki?" (See, in the witness of the Sun, during the day time I eat everything worthy like fruits, milk, curds, rice, chapatis and thereafter even your sweet Rosogollas.... Tell me whether these things of yours like TeaCigarettes and Mutton-Fish are ever worth consuming ?")
And I well remember, with such of my insisting replies and practical following of the principles, a number of Bengali, Assamese and other Non-Vegetarian students also joined with me and had taken to Vegetarianism. What could see was, if we are devoted to the adopted principles, others are ready to make way for us and there are no obstacles in our path after the testing time initially.
DURING VARIOUS SERVICES & PRINCIPALSHIP OF NATIONAL COLLEGE
After my student life, for a shortwhile at Santiniketan and for long periods elsewhere as mentioned before, where ever I worked and served, not only had I any diffuculty in carrying on my principles and other practices, but had tremendous success in my pursuits, inspite of the testing odds due to my insistence of values' implementations and fight against the injustices, which is an another subject to be mentioned elsewhere.
During my Principalship at the National College, Kubernagar, Ahmedabad during 1962-63-64 (the Ever First Hindi Medium College of Gujarat University), I noticed that the residents around me, were mostly the Late-Nighteaters. My very neighbour was ailing from serveral diseases due to such unhealthy practices and also due to Non-Vegetarian Diet. He was 'after me to show some way out, being fed up with his continuous sickness and consuming of medicines. I suggested him with all my love and intimacy to give up both, the Non-veg foods and Eatings after the Sunset. I prescribed him more fruits also in the evening meals. Though he found difficult to change his life-long wrong habits, his tiring sickness and a tragic incident compelled him to do so. He and all of his family members could see that he got rid of his diseases, regained health and became a new person after his change. Thanks to the abandoning of night-eatings and non-veg. diet......!!
DURING MY THREE-FOLD PERFORMANCES TOURS ABROAD
Reminiscences and Experiences of these tours, being very valuable from several points of views, have taken forms of several articles and books titled VIDESHON ME JAIN DHARMA PRABHAVANA and JAINISM ABROAD, etc. One of such experiences at Rochester itself follows right now in the end of this article. Out of several other inspiring experiences of staunch adaptors of Jainist live principles in day-to-day life, I must mention and compliment an illustrious Chicago School boy and my kind New York hostess Smt. Smitaben and Shri Jaswant Shah, her frank, pious husband.