________________
Jains Living Abroad
It is estimated that nearly four lakh Jains are now residing abroad. During the British regime they mainly settled in U. K. and other British colonies. Their migration to other countries mainly started from the sixties while better avenues opened in scientific and medical research, in various professions, particularly engineering and medicines and in business and industry. Thanks to the initiative and enterprise of the younger generation that the Jains are now very well established in professions, business and industry in many countries of the world and in larger number in UK, USA, Canada, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia etc.
Shri Satish Kumar Jain
In is pleasing to know that the Jains are in fairly large number in African countries as well. At the beginning of this century some Jains from Gujarat, specially from Saurashtra and Kutch, sailed to Zanzibar and coastal towns of East Africa, such as Mombasa, Daressalaam, Tanga, Lindi etc. As hinterland of Kenya and Tanzania opened, they went into inland and established their business there. Some of them even went to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and even to South Africa.
With a long record of social service, deeply involved with international and national conferences and seminars, I had a natural desire to know whether the Jains living abroad have entirely adopted a materialistic attitude of life or they still have faith and regard for the Indian culture and religious beliefs particularly the Jain principles and traditions.
Jain Education International
I had the occasin to first visit America, Canada and other countries of Europe including U. K. France, Italy and Switzerland in connection with participating and addressing the Second International Jain Conference, held at London, U. K. in October 1983. 1 was overwhelmed to see that at the concluding General Session on 2nd October over 2000 participants had thronged the large Wembley Conference Hall near Landon and many representative speakers had expressed their heart-felt desire to spread the message of love, mutual understanding, co-existence,
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
