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Activities of Jain Religion in the Last Century Shwetambar sect to foreign countries raised a hue and cry in both the sects.
Gujarat boasts of glorious traditions of great traders. Great Jain traders have taken living interest in extensive activities of social welfare, besides religious activities. The term of the fourth contract of protection that the firm of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji had made with the state of Palitana for annual payment of Rs. 15000 ended on 31-3-1926 and the fifth contract was delayed on account of the stern attitude of the ruler of Palitana and Mr. C. C. Watson, the political agent of Kathiawad towards “Jain Sangha' and consequently the Jain Sangha put the pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya in Palitana under a total boycott from 7-4-1926 onwards.
As long as 26 months from 1-4-1926 to 31-5-1928 this boycott so strictly continued that during that period not a single pilgrim went on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay in Palitana.
Ultimately, by the arbitration of viceroy Lord Irvin, fifth contract of protection for a period of thirty-five years for annual payment of sixty thousand rupees was signed at Simla on 265-1928. So pilgrimage to Shatrunjay was declared open from 16-28. In Jain tradition this incident is regarded unprecedented and memorable. (History of the firm of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji - Part I by Ratilal Dipchand Desai, Publisher Sheth Anandji Kalyanji, Ahmedabad - 1) Motisha Sheth, Narshi Kesharji Naik, Premabhai Sheth, Narshi Natha, Premchand Raichand, Hathibhai Sheth, Mayabhai Premabhai, Kasturbhai Manibhai, Ambalal Sarabhai, Mansukhbhai Bhagubhai Sheth, Lalbhai Sheth, Kasturbhai Lalbahi and others have done numerous activities for social or national welfare and for dissemination
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