Sanatan Jain

Author(s): Unknown
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 12

PARESHNATH HILL.
to the fact that they were prompted by the noble purpose not to embarrass the Government in the matter. "It does appear" said the Honorable Judges upon the evidence that upon the establishment of a Sanitarium by Government on the Hill, several soldiers lived there for a time and that on the establishment of the Dak-bungalow European travellers visited the Hill from time to time and the residence of Europeans necessita ted the killing of animals for their food. But at the same time it also appears that the establishment of Sanitarium was opposed by some of the Jains and the reason why they did not bring a suit to put a stop to the slaughter of animals in the Sanitarium and in the dak-bungalow was, perhaps, that they did not think it judicious to quarrel with the Government" (The Italics are of course ours). So we have it on the authority of the highest Court in the realm that the Jains did not consent to a voluntary abdication of their rights but they
hadt he good sense to refrain from exercising them in view of the Governmental action, which they were inclined to think rightly or wrongly was required by the exigencies of State. The establishment of Sanitarium, the quatering of European Soldiers and the building of a dak-bungalow were far from being acceptable to the Jains and ran from directly counter to their cherished feelings, but they thought it prudent not to quarrel with the Government ineasures that they thought had not the element of permanence
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in their character. On the contrary, these acts of questionable validity were looked upon as temporary makeshifts directed by reasons of State, which were not intended to form a perpetual nuisance. It is evident that the esta blishment of Sanitarium was, as a matter of fact, opposed by some of theJains who keculy resent this encroachment on their rights but they did. not think it worth while for reasons of expediency to carry their opposition to the bitter end. Their reticence is easily explained by attributing it to their reluctance to engage in a deadly. strife with the Government and it would be doing a great in justice to construe it into an acquiescence with the invasion of their time-honored privilege.
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The Lieugenant-Governer characterised the Jain belief in the sanctity of the entire Hills as "contrary to ren son." His Honor" felt certain that. the claim that the whole range should be declared sacred and reserved for the worship of the Jains is made under misapprehension."" We beg respectfully to state that there is nothing ab surd in the claim put forward by the Jains that they look upon every stone or inch of ground in the Hills as impregnate with sacred associations. The reasons are not far to seek. It would be useful to notice in this connection the findings of the then District Judge of the 24 Pargunnas, Mr. C. B. Garrett, against whose decree the appeal was preferred in the Piggery case to the High Court and which findings were also unheld by the Honor