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western world by the Jain community and will hopefully pave the way for many more to come in near future.
Concluding Remarks The Jain diaspora was mainly formed during the past four decades though its history can be traced back to the late nineteenth century. It made a small beginning in the last decade of the 19" century in East Africa, and has been continuing to flourish there in spite of two World Wars, the great depression, Africanisation and the expulsion of Indians from Uganda. In countries other than East Africa the Jain diaspora could not emerge until the last quarter of the 20th century when the Jains began to emigrate to the industrially developed countries in Europe and North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Persian Gulf countries. Unlike in India where the Jains continue to remain overwhelmingly a trading community, the diasporic Jains have emerged mainly as communities of professionals.
With the increase in their numerical strength over the years the Jain diaspora has acquired an independent identity – independent of the Hindu diaspora. Everywhere they are consolidating their distinct identity and life style by forming socio-cultural or religious associations, building Jain temples and promoting vegetarianism, etc.
Of the total diasporic population estimated at about quarter-of-amillion, about 90% of the Jains abroad live in just five countries, namely the US (140,000+), the UK (50,000+), Nepal (25,000), Kenya (15,000), and Canada (5,000). For the past few years the small diasporic Jain population has been exerting a significant amount of influence on the Jains in India through such international associations as the Federations of Jains Associations of North America (JAINA), Jain Samaj Europe, Jain Social Group International Federation, Jain International Trade Organisation, and the International Summer School for Jain Studies, etc. Making people aware about Jainism as a world religion and spreading its messages of ahimsa, peaceful co-existence and vegetarianism appear to be high on the agenda of the Jain diasporic pro-activism.
112 Jains in India and Abroad
