Virchad R Gandhi A Gandhi before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Pankaj Hingarh
Publisher: Bipin Doshi, Pankaj Hingarh

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Eternal India, August 2010
give assistance to MK Gandhi by telling him from going abroad. One of the him different stories about barristers. He vows of a Jain saint is not to travel tried his best to get briefs for MK across water as it is tantamount to vioGandhi. VRG was a great exponent of lence against sea creatures. Since he Indian culture, religions, and a polyglot wanted Jainism to be represented at this knowing 14 languages, and was scholar conference, he trained and deputed 29in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, year old, charismatic Virchand Raghavji Christianity, Western philosophies, Gandhi. Yoga, Indian economics, international The parliament was held at the trade, etc. It is noteworthy that at the Columbus Hall of the Art Institute of age of 21 VRG became the first Hon. Chicago with more than 7000 delegates Secretary of the Jain Association of of different nations and religions particIndia in 1885.
ipating. The conFor the 1893 The parliament was held at the ference lasted 17 Parliament of Columbus Hall of the Art Institute of
ute of
dave
days. It was domiWorld Religions, Chicago with more than 7000
nated by Englishdelegates of different nations and distinguished perreligions participating.
speaking Christian sonalities were
representatives, invited as representatives of various who delivered 153 of 194 speeches. religions on a common platform for the Opportunity for the leaders from other first time. Param Pujya Acharya religious traditions was limited, Vijayandsuri (Muni Atmaramji) was a although significant. Twelve speakers world famous Jain saint who could see represented Buddhism, 11 Judaism, 8 ages ahead of his time. He was born in Hinduism, 2 Islam, 2 Parsi, 2 Shintoism, 1821 CE in a Kapoor Khatri family. 2 Confucianism, 1 Taoism and 1 Being a versatile, far-sighted Jain saint- Jainism. Christianity dominated. Many scholar, and author of several learned Christian leaders declared theirs as the treatises, he was invited to participate in best religion and that one can't have the first ever parliament held in entry in the kingdom of heaven unless Chicago, USA. But the principles of one is a Christian. Faith in one God and right conduct for a Jain monk prevented the sacrifice of Jesus to wash the sins of
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
- Confucius
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