Jains in India and Abroad

Author(s): Prakash C Jain
Publisher: International Summer School for Jain Studies

Page 35

Besides social equality, gender equality is an equally important concern for the Jains. It is interesting to note that at least in principle Jainism is open to all irrespective of caste, colour, creed, gender or wealth, though in practice Jains observe all forms of discrimination and exclusion. The Jains do accept the Hindu Varna Vyavastha, but only as a system of division of labour, and not in terms of any ascriptive criterion (birth). What is implied here is the fact that the social order is a man-made system, and not a divinely ordained one. This had far reaching impact on the status of Sudras, and also on the institution of slavery. Incidently, the Jainist conception of society is anarchist or atomistic. It accepts the view that the society is the sum total of individuals. The quality of society is determined by the quality of its constituent units. Obviously, this conception of society does not recognize the sui generis (self-dependent) property of society.
The contribution of Jainism to the Indian socio-cultural value system is subtle and diffused yet quite significant. The five Anubratas of which Ahimsa has become synonymous to Jainism constitute the core of this value system. The Jainist concern of Ahimsa extends from controlling individual passions to managing inter-personal and family relations, to inter-group tolerance, to maintaining world peace, and to preserving ecological balance and sustainability (See Amar 2009).
Vegetarianism is the most visible expression of Jainist concern to Ahimsa. So much so that the overwhelming majority of Jains not only "rigidly abstain from eating non-vegetarian food and intoxicants, some of them even avoid eating roots and tubers like potatoes, onions, garlic, radish and carrot, while many renounce supper and avoid the use of honey and stale butter because they are afraid of destroying living creatures in the bargain” (Singh 1998: 1330). For the same reason, most Jains drink only strained water, and avoid eating after sunset.
Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha in South Africa and India and its impact on the racial equality movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the U.S. are some of the successful political applications of Ahimsa (Hay 1979). Therefore, it was highly appropriate that 2nd October,
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