Tribute to 19th Century Indian Legend Shri Virchandji Raghavji Gandhi

Author(s): JAINA VRG Committee
Publisher: JAINA VRG Committee

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hopes and aspirations died at a very young age of 37 on August 7, 1901, within two months of his returning from third journey of the West, leaving unbridgeable void. The Jain community in mourning his death kept their business closed for five days. His short life span was full of great achievements. He sacrificed his brilliant legal career for the cause of Jainism and died in service to humanity.
VRG & his fight for Sammet Shikhar Jain Tirth : In 1891, he was responsible in winning the case known as "Piggery Case" in Calcutta High Court for closing down the slaughterhouse run by an Englishman at Sametshikhar Pilgrimage. For this he had stayed in Calcutta for six months and learnt Bengali language to prepare the brief which was lost at the lower court.
VRG & his Sadharmik Seva : As a true humanitarian, he sent Ind. Rs.40, 000 and a shipload of grains from U.S.A. to India during worst famine of 1896-97.
VRG as Reformer : As a reformer he established a] Gandhi Philosophical Society, b] Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI). Under the banner of SEWI, several Indian women came to U.S.A. for higher studies. c] School of Oriental Philosophy, d] Jain Literature Society in London.
VRG representation as a National Figure & All Asia Sole Delegate : As a national figure he attended the Indian National Congress held in Pune as the Representative of then Bombay province in 1895. He attended the International Conference of Commerce in London as an All-Asia sole delegate in 1899 where he advocated reforms of post-parcel system.
VRG & Mark Twain relationship: In my modern research I learnt that Mark Twain, father of American Literature was too impressed by Virchand Gandhi & his Jain philosophy & his newspaper Buffalo express had covered immense success of VRG & on Mark Twain's Visit to India ,VRG displayed his hospitality & accompanied him to jain temples. In MARK TWAIN, on, Biblical & Hindu Miracles - G.B. singh justifies that Virchand Gandhi had met Mark Twain on his visit to India but somehow western researcher in Inventing Mark Twain: The Lives of Samuel Langhorne Clemens by Andrew Hoffman mistook Virchand Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, at this stage of Mark Twain's travel, was living