Report on Accident of Muni Jambuvijayji

Author(s): Hiroko Matusoka
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Page 8

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31LHEITA 40 (2)
in India. Moreover, one can get a four-wheeled vehicle driver's license without being tested first, and by giving some money if one already owned a two-wheeled vehicle. Therefore, most car drivers are untrained and pose as serious threats to two-wheeled vehicle drivers and walkers. Meanwhile, as a remarkable development in the Indian economy, well-surfaced roads are being constructed everywhere, and the middle class can purchase cheap cars such as TATA NANO. I am not surprised to read newspapers reporting many vehicle accidents every day, and I can easily imagine it will get worse in the future. Whatever be the case, I am still extremely shocked that the driver of that car could so easily kill innocent Jain monks, who were walking on the side of the road, especially when there were very few vehicles on that road. To make matters worse, the police of Baitu are not taking the matter seriously.
As for the Jain community, most of the Jains have migrated to big cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad, leaving no Jains in the villages to assist Jain mendicants, rendering them helpless. Therefore, the Jain communities should make arrangements such that the mendicants always have escorts from one village to another. I was pleasantly surprised when I witnessed a local escort leading the mendicants on a small road headed in the direction of their next stop of pilgrimage in order to ensure their safety. Additionally, the arrangement for Jain food (gocari) and boiled water is also important. I have seen with my very own eyes the troubles faced by monks and nuns on pilgrimage when they do not get proper food and water.
I sincerely request the Mahajanas or the chiefs of villages to look after every facility intended for Jain mendicants in their villages. In turn, the villagers will also benefit by the presence and knowledge of the mendicants.
*I am deeply indebted to Pu. Munishri Himavantvijayji and Pu. Munishri Pundarikaratnavijayji for their relevant and useful input as well