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Ch. 3: Ajja Chandana - Women's Liberation
daughters can and do achieve as much as any man can. Tirthankar Mahavir has set women free to scale the heights of spiritual and intellectual achievements and to lead others. Do you remember Gautam, how ordaining the first woman, Ajja Chandana, opened the floodgates? So many women wanted to join that freedom movement and follow in her footsteps that Mahavir had to create a separate group of sadhvis."
"What a surprisingly pleasant event!" I said.
“Surprising indeed! I don't know about you Gautam, but at that time I was wondering why Mahavir picked Ajja Chandana to lead the group. Didn't many older women join the sangh at the same time? In hindsight, however, I realized that Mahavir's choice was wise. I have been watching Ajja Chandana all these years, but have never heard a complaint about her leadership. Her group is happy and efficient. I don't recall Ajja Chandana ever coming to me or to Mahavir seeking guidance for managing her group. I wonder how Mahavir knew that she would be the right leader."
“You are right Ganadhar Sudharma." I said. "Frankly, I too had my doubts. At that time I was not in favor of her being ordained and given leadership. After all, she was a woman, and not a pundit like us! However, I now have no more doubts about her abilities."
"I too have no more doubts, Ganadhar Gautam, but I am curious. What makes her such a great leader? Who is she? What is her background?"
I decided to tell Sudharma everything that I have been able to learn about Ajja Chandana.
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