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The Resolutions adopted at the Conference were forwarded to the Secretary General of the United Nations and very encouraging response had been received from his office appreciating our efforts for promoting peace and non-violence.
Two large Press Conferences were held before the Conference to publicise the need of world peace, non-violence, vegetarianism and compassion towards animals and birds. The Conference was adequately covered by TV, radio and newspapers on all the three days. Shri M.K. Dharma Raja, a journalist of repute, who was the Chief Rapporteur, and Shri Swaraj Jain, the conference Press Reporter, gave their whole-hearted support in the extensive media coverage and sucessful holding of the press conferences. Discussions were held in a very cordial atmosphere regarding needs of the Jainas living World over. It was particularly emphasised that suitable literature should be published for children of school going age to bring them up according to the Jain traditions. Pursuant to the Resolutions adopted at the Third International Jain Conference, the World Jain Congress has come into being in 1985 with Headquarters at New Delhi. Its members have been made from various parts of the world. Its Chapters have been established in USA, Canada and U.K. Efforts will be intensified to open Chapters in other countries and increase membership.
The World Jain Congress organised Indo-American Jain Conference in New Jersey State, USA on September 26th, 27th, and 28th, 1986. It was organised with the dedicated efforts of Acharya Sushil Kumarji in his big 108 acre Ashram, "Siddhachalam" in Blairstown. It was due to his influence in the Jain Community of North America that about 1000 enlightened persons including professors, engineers, doctors, Chartered Accountants, business executives, businessmen and industrialists participated in the Conference from various parts of America and Canada.
I, as Secretary General of that Conference and during my visits to many Jain Centres and Associations of America, Canada, U.K. and some otner countries of Europe had the pleasure of observing that there is great desire among the Jains to meet frequently, exchange ideas, invite scholars and receive literature from India.
About four lakh Jains are now well-settled in UK, USA, Canada, Kenya and other countries of the world. Their main desire is to have suitable literature, video cassets on lectures of Jain Saints, Jain songs and talks etc. They also desire that good literature be placed in various Universities and libraries of various countries in order that the researchers may have the facility to go into depth of this one of the oldest religions of the world and to have an analysis of its scientific principles.
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