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Chapter - 19
A REFORMIST JAINA MISSIONARY: BR. SHITAL PRASADJI (1878-1942)*
There was a time in Jaina community during early half of this century when his name was a name for honour, service and magnanimity, through the length and breadth of this country. He was a highly far-sighted personality who could judge the nerves of the society and thought of plans to improve its lot even in nineteen twenties. His plans are bearing fruits today. He had to face stiff opposition from the traditional community and saints even for his thoughts on promotion of (i) Widow marriage (1926), (ii) Inter-caste marriage (iii) Girls/women/education and (iv) Opposition of polygamy, (v) Child marriage, (vi) Unmatchable marriage, (vii) Marriage of the aged people (viii) Dowry (ix) System of social boycott on petty pretences of minor transgressions of social/religions customs (x) Deprivation of temple visits and worships (xi) Untouchability and (xii) Feasting at death etc.
However, his modesty and sincerity of purpose paid for his endearment in the society. Almost all his thoughts are in material action, if not wholly, but sufficiently, these days. The orthodoxy is slowly giving way to scientific liberalism. Besides his mission of socio-religious reforms, he showed many impressive and inborn qualities and activities in the fields of (I) public speech (ii) journalism (ii) Jinistic promotion inland and abroad (iv) production of popular commentary and translated Jaina literature and (v) creating a band of workers to carry on his torchlight. These worķers included personalities like barrister C. R. Jain, J. L. Jaini, Babu Ugrasen Jain, A. P. Goyaliya, A. P. Jain, Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain and others who
* This article was published in Tirtharikara Vāņi, Ahmedabad, Vol. 5.3, 4 & 9, 1997-98.
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