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EPILOGUE | 157
give up milk and sweets until residential arrangements were made for the Jain brethren coming from outside. During chaturmas (the four rainy months), a project for Jain Nagar was announced in the benign presence of Pujya Mrugavatishriji, fulfilling the last wish of Pujya Guruvallabh.
Pratapbhai represents all the great attributes of his late father, Bapaji... He has sustained the legacy of Bhogilalbhai and his grandfather and I would say even enhanced it
Years later, when the project for Vallabh Smarak was underway in Delhi, Pujya Mrugavatishriji had written a letter to Pratapbhai condoling the demise of Bapaji. When Pratapbhai came to Delhi for the first time after his father's death, he came to Roop Nagar, where we were staying at the time, to pay respects to Pujya Maharaj Mrugavatishriji and thank her for her condolence letter. Thereafter, whenever he visited Delhi he would come over for Pujya Mrugavatishriji's darshan. He even met us when we were moving about in Haryana and Punjab - at Ambala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jullunder and smaller towns in the interior. The affection of good people is like a gold chain and remains permanent.
We met Pratapbhai more often as his interest in the Vallabh Smarak temple grew. He shifted the Bhogilal Leherchand Institute from Patan to Delhi Smarak at the suggestion of Pujya Mrugavatishriji. He also gave his huge library to the Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology, Delhi, besides donating lakhs of rupees.
After the death of Lala Ratanchandji Jain, who was the President of the Smarak, the Jain Sangh in Delhi requested Pratapbhai to take over as Chairman. But he declined on the plea that he would not be able to do full justice to the job as he was based in Mumbai. However, following persistent requests from the Jain Sangh, he finally agreed to be the Chairman of the Smarak. During his chairmanship, the Smarak as well as the Bhogilal Leherchand Institute progressed a lot. Every year, during the summer vacation, there used to be a summer school of Prakrit
In prosperity our friends know us, in adversity we know our friends. - Kautilya
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