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doctor Dhiraj Shah, a new immigrant to America avoid military draft stating to the US army court that as a follower of Non-Violence, he could not be forced to take up arms. The ruling of the court recognized Jainism and forever exempted all Jains from any combat duty. In New York he was a sought after speaker at Interfaith seminars, colleges and Universities were inviting him to speak on Non Violence and peace in support of Antiwar sentiments against Vietnam War.
Many of Chitrabhanuji's American followers urged him to establish a place where they can avail themselves opportunity to hear him regularly. Chitrabhanuji, from the savings of his teaching and speaking jobs spared some funds to rent a place in Manhattan and established "Jain Meditation International Center". Eventually Jains also started coming to the center. They brought with them a marble Murtie of Shri Mahavirswami, thus Chitrabhanuji established the first Jain place of worship in America.
Chitrabhanuji began for his American students annual pilgrimages to Shatrunjay and Mt. Abu. Students were required to adopt vegetarianism and meditation as condition for Joining him in Yatra. After completing the yatra, students were given new names like Vikas, Prema and Prachi etc. signifying their new spiritual life. In one of the annual yatras, in 1974 students got to meet with the Prime minister Indira Gandhi and attending "World Fellowship of Religions" in Delhi. Organizer of the conference - Muni Sushil Kumarji - disciple of Punjab Kesari Shri Vijay Vallabh Suriji-was impressed by hearing Navkar Mantra from the westerners that Chitrabhanuji had brought with him. Muni Sushil Kumarji expressed his desire to go to America and join hands with Chitrabhanuji to Spread Mahavir's message. Chitrabhanuji warmly agreed to help him get to America and pledged to work together.
Chitrabhanuji traveled all across America and helped establish 40 Jain centers. He and Muni Sushil Kumar inspired formation of JAINA - a federation of Jain Associations in North America - representing all the jains without distinction of sects or the region they came from. Today almost forty years later, JAINA is the largest Jain organization outside of India representing over 100,000 jains. In the seventies and eighties Chitrabhanuji made many trips to UK, Antwerp, Singapore and African nations. Chitrabhanuji also attracted attention of a group of Americans in Michigan - The Lighthouse Center -who adopted him as their spiritual leader. The members of this group are not only vegetarians but also Vegan. It is estimated that about 1500 Americans have turned Vegetarian
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because of Chitrabhanuji's message.
Chitrabhanuji learned of Veganism almost by accident. In one of the American groups he was addressing someone asked him how was it that as a messenger of Non-Violence he consumes milk. Chitrabhanuji was shocked. He admitted that it had never occurred to him that milk is product of so much violence. He promised to study the subject.
True to his word, Chitrabhanuji and Pramodaben started their research on Veganism once they were back in New York. It was a new awakening for them. Not only they both became lifelong devout vegan but Chitrabhanuji changed his message completely. He was no longer preaching about finer points of Jainism. He argued in Jain Center against use of Milk in Pooja or Ghee in Dipak. The campaign for veganism did not impress many adult Jains of America. In fact, there were many who opposed him for that message arguing that our Tirthankars used milk and never forbade us from using. but hundreds of Jain youngsters converted to Veganism.
The criticism did not deter Chitrabhanuji. He considered words of the immortal Song he had composed.
કરે ઉપકેશા એ મારગની તોયે સમતા ચીતત ધરૂ
He continued to speak at various venues spreading the message of Non-Violence. He was honored by many politicians, universities and churches etc. The pinnacle of the honors was the 2001 invitation from House of Representatives in Washington with opening prayer in recognition of 2600 anniversary of Mahavirswami.
Later in 2014 Claremont Lincoln University in California awarded "Ahimsa Award" to both Chitrabhanuji and Pramodaben. Thus the Ahimsa Yatra of Chitrabhanuji that began at Harvard University in 1971 reached another University on the west coast. As of that time Chitrabhanuji decided to stop all his public appearances bowing to his age.
But there is one more thing I must take note. In June of 2018, Jain Society of Chicago decided to honor Chitrabhanuji during 25 Anniversary of their Temple. Chitrabhanuji had officiated their Prathistha ceremony and made numerous visit to their Temple after that. The Chicago Jain center had installed a bust of Shri Virchand Raghavji in their center and recognizing the pioneer work of Chitrabhanuji in the footsteps of VRG, they installed a bust of Chittrabhanuji as a Jivant Smarak.
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