Virchad R Gandhi A Gandhi before Gandhi

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

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Pagertha
Eternal India, August 2010
prevented that able Jaina from attending on Jainism, but abusive comments on this grand assembly and personally pre- Hinduism and Indian culture was intolsenting to you the religious convictions erable to him. His expression was of the Jainas. You will, therefore, look echoed in the parliament, which not upon me as simply the mouthpiece of only displayed his patriotic love for Muni Atmaramji, the learned high priest India and its religions but also estabof the Jainas in India, who has devoted lished him as a known name in the his whole life to the study of that USA. Thereafter, he was termed as the ancient faith.”
lion of the season. Let's take a look at He said, "I represent Jainism, a faith his speech: older than Buddhism, similar to it in its “Before proceeding with my address, ethics, but different from it in its psy- I wish to make a few observations. This chology, and pro
platform is not a He said, "I represent Jainism, a faith fessed by a million
older than Buddhism, similar to it in place for mutual and a half of its ethics, but different from it in its
recriminations, India's most psychology, and professed by a and I am heartily peaceful and law- million and a half of India's most sorry that from abiding citizens". peaceful and law-abiding citizens". time to time the He expounded to
most un-Christian them what this universe is; whether spirit is allowed freely here, but I know there is God as the creator of this uni- how to take these recriminations at their verse; what is the ultimate purpose of proper value. I am glad that no one has life and several such other things. He dared to attack the religion I represent. explained to them Navatatva, It is well that they should not. But every Shathdravya, Chargati, Panchavratha, attack has been directed to the abuses Moksha, Nyayavad, Anekantvad etc. existing in our society. And I repeat now
what I repeat every day, that these Unjust and Inhospitable Criticism abuses are not from religion, but in spite
On the 25th September 1893, of religion, as in every other country. Virchand Gandhi was to further discuss "Some men in their over-ambition,
We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.
- Albert Einstein