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contestations involving differences of doctrinal opinions, debates, rivalries and modes of worship, there have also been frequent confrontations between the Digambar and Shvetambar sects over the ownership of pilgrimage places (See Jain, R. K. 1999: 76-82). Thus during the late 1980s there were about 134 such disputes taking place in India (Dundas 1992: 48).
Jain Associations Almost all the Jain sects, sub-sects and castes have their own associations whose annual meetings are organised at local, regional or national levels. Depending on the level of association and the exigencies of the time, a wide variety of issues pertaining to the community are deliberated on in these meetings and conventions. Thus for example, about 115 year-old Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha had deliberated upon a large number of other issues such as the need for maintaining a distinctive identity of the Jains; restoration and proper maintenance of Jain pilgrimage places; need for social reforms within the community, especially regarding child marriage, dowry system, old-age homes and the homes for the disabled; education and emancipation of women; demand for declaration of Mahavir Jayanti as a public holiday in 1939 and then in the early 1950s; support for Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha, swadeshi and civil disobedience movements, etc. Incidently, at one stage the Jains did demand for a separate electoral rol representation in the Council, though it did not materialize. The association was also quite vocal in opposing the Hindu Code Bill of 1949 and Untouchability Removal and Harijan Temple Entry Bill on the ground that by the passage of these Bills the Jains too would be affected by the provisions of the Bills as legally they are clubbed with the Hindus, whereas in reality the Jains constitute a separate religion and community (See Kothari 2004).
Besides Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha and the other sectarian associations, the non-sectarian Jain associations too have emerged from time to time. These include Jain Young Men Association (1899), Bharat Jain Mahamandal (1910), Jain Political Conference (1917) and Jain Milan (1953). Jain Milan was reorganised in 1966 as Bhartiya Jain Milan which presently has more than 800 units all over India. Besides promoting Jain religion, culture and
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Jains in India and Abroad
