Selected Speeches of V R Gandhi

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

Page 9

PREFACE
It is our great pleasure to provide herein glimpses of our great philosopher and exponent of Indian culture, Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi. The late Acharya Shri Vijayanandsuri (popularly known as Atmaramji) Maharaj was a great scholar of Jainism. His erudition drew the attention of scholars outside India. He was invited to attend the Congress of World Religions held in Chicago in 1893 A.D. The rules of conduct of Jaina sadhus prevented the learned Acharya from going to Chicago, but he did not want that Jainism should remain unrepresented. This prompted him to depute Shri Virchand Gandhi to fulfil his mission. This Congress held more than 70 years before has remained unique and unparalleled in the history of the religions of the world from the point of view of extensive representation and the galaxy of world scholars, who participated in the high level of discussion.
Born in Mahuva, the then obscure place in Saurashtra, he took primary and secondary education at Bhavnagar, when the knowledge of three R's even was considered very complimentary and dignified. After passing the Matriculation Examination, he joined the Elphinstone College, Bombay and graduated with Honours. Short brief sketch included herein provides fuller details. It is a happy coincidence that his life sketch has been written by Shri H. H. Dalal, B.A., Bar-at-Law, who is now Jt. Hon. Secretary of the Jain Association of India, of which Shri Virchand Gandhi had the unique pri