Systems of Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

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THE SYSTEMS OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
the future. Even before the dawn of political independence, Virchand Gandhi had foreseen the proper role of India.
"If India becomes free, she will live in political co-operation with all countries." Five decades before the independence of India, Virchand Gandhi had the prophetic sense; he said in his lecture on 'The Jain Philosophy'_“You know my brothers and sisters, that we are not an independent nation. We are subjects of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria the defender of the faith', but if we are a nation in all that name implies with our own government and our own rulers, with our laws and institutions controlled by us free and independent, I affirm that we should seek to establish and for ever maintain peaceful relations with all the nations of the world.”
Virchand Gandhi made such a great impact that the conveners and scholars of the conference of world religions awarded a silver medal to him. Subsequently on 8th August 1894 the citizens of Kasadova awarded a gold medal to him. In this city he delivered a lecture on 'Some mistakes corrected.' The newspaper, ‘Buffalo Courier', records the immense success of the lecture. In America Virchand Gandhi founded two institutions namely, “The Gandhi Philosophical Society' and 'The School of Oriental Philosophy.' In Chicago he founded the institution namely 'Society for the Education of Women of India.' The secretary of this institution was Mrs. Howard who had adopted pure vegetarianism and other codes of conduct of Jainism under the influence of Virchand Gandhi. As sister Nivedita became Swami Vivekanand's disciple, so Mrs. Howard became Virchand Gandhi's disciple and like Jains she practised Samayika. · Later, Virchand Gandhi went to England, where he fulfilled his desire to be a barrister but he did not use this training for monetary gain. Considering the curiosity for Jainism in England, he started a coaching class. Later he founded the 'Jain Literature Society' in London. Herbert Warren, a religious enthusiast, abandoned nonvegetarianism and adopted the Jain religion. He took notes of Virchand Gandhi's lectures and wrote in English a book on the Jain religion. Moreover, Charles C. Bonny, the President of the Conference of world religions, was impressed by him. At the time of the famine of 1896-97 in India, Mr. Bonny was the president of the Famine Relief Commitee founded in America by Virchand