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08. Vidya Varidhi Shri Champatray Barrister Vidya Varidhi Shri Champatray Barrister is one who has put in his entire mind, body and wealth for the expansion of Jainism in foreign countries. He believed in Jain scriptures very deeply and he was considered to be a determinant follower of Jainism of modern age who has engaged all his might for the development of Jain scriptures.
Scriptower Heba
Childhood and Study: There are many Jains living in Delhi. They have their independent business or they have are engaged as personal secretaries of kings, emperors and ministers. Some are dealing in jewellery also.
Shri Champatray was born in the year around 1872 AD in Chainsukhdasji Haveli of Delhi. Lala Chandramalji and Shrimati Parvatidevi were his parents. The family had deep Jain impressions since long traditions and hence the virtues like daily seeings of gods at Jain temples, worship, reading of scriptures, muttering of gods' names on rosary, avoiding eating at night and keeping of promises at any cost etc. were naturally inherited by the child. Champatray had three elder brothers but all of them had died in very young age. Champatray, therefore, got the love of his parents as their only child. But, unfortunately, his mother also died when he was only six years of age and Lala Sohanlal Bankelal, the elder brother of his father adopted Champatray as his son. Lala Sohanlalji was considered to be one of the richest men in Delhi in those days. Champatrayji was put up to a private school named Kala Mahal for learning with his good deeds of previous lives; Champatray was healthy and charming. He was very intelligent also. He passed is matriculation examination in first class and therefore, he was admitted to the famous saint Stephen College of Delhi. Since he was very outstanding in his studies, he was sent to England in 1892 for the study of barristership and he returned to India in 1897 after achieving that degree.
Family Life and Business: As per the prevailing practices of the time, Champatrayji was married at his age of 13 with the daughter of Lala Pyarelalji who was the Sarpanch of Delhi Jain Samaj and President of Delhi Bar Association. But destiny was quite otherwise. The girl with whom he was married was found to be mad and she never came to stay with Champatrayji. Champatrayji declined to remarry and thus, adopted life long celibacy.
During his stay in England, for the study of barristership, he was very much impressed by the English culture and even after coming back to India, he was considering himself to be highly learned, cultured and progressive man. He was very much famous as a great advocate of law within a few years and then he was appointed as chief-barrister in the criminal department of the High Court of Avadh. Even with so much success, he was never away from honesty, integrity and truthfulness. He accepted very few cases and refused to handle undeserving cases. He encouraged junior advocates and he was popularly known as uncle Jain.
Events Leading to Change in Life:
