Selected Speeches of V R Gandhi

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi Godiji Jain Derasar Mumbai

Page 113

But though brilliant and a keen mind, he was not destined to be a Solicitor. He had inherited and imbibed the spirit of reform and social service and his mind was working in that direction. Soon he found an opportunity.
About this time in 1884 A.D. the Jain Association of India was established in Bombay with the objects of bringing the Jainas of various parts of India nearer together and to organise them with a view to achieve their social, moral and educational uplift; to look after the management of the religious and charitable trusts, to strive for preventing slaughter of cattle and to remove the hardships experienced by pilgrims in the places of pilgrimages in India. Shri Virchand was selected to be its honorary secretary. In this Institution, he found scope for achieving the objects dearer to his heart; and he did accomplish solution of various difficult and important problems of the day. The Thakore Saheb of Palitana had levied a pilgrim tax on all the pilgrims going there. Apart from the amount of tax, it entailed many hardships and it was galling to the Jainas. Shri Virchand made strenuous efforts and succeeded in removing the tax. His efforts brought about a compromise with the Thakore Saheb by which Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi of Ahmedabad agreed to pay a lump sum of Rs. 15,000/- per year as Rakhopa money for looking after the safety of the pilgrims and the holy place and the tax was abolished.
Another great achievement of Shri Virchand was his success in removal of a tallow factory started
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