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points. Virchandbhai had realized the cultural context and that is why he sometimes poses as a Jain and sometimes sides with Hindus but everywhere he poses as an Indian.
The ideologies of Vivekanand and Virchand Raghavji Gandhi reveal persuasive and comprehensive outlook of those who are devoted to Anekanta. In America he delivered lectures not only on Jain philosophy but also no Sankhya philosophy, Yoga philosophy, Nyaya philosophy, Vedanta philosophy and Buddhistic philosophy. Swami Vivekananda's lectures of that period are found to have special trends towards Hinduism and scriptures of Buddhism. Still however, these two great men supplemented each other and showed to the western world the importance of India philosophies.
It is a noteworthy fact that though Virchand Gandhi had close friendship with a numbe of Christian gentlemen of England and America, he fearlessly cirti. cized Christian missionaries involved in proselytizing activity in India. In such articles as 'India's Message to America' and 'Impressions of America' he gave a warm response to the people of America on the one hand but on the other hand he severely criticized in such articles as 'Have Christian Mission to India been Successful ?' the proselytizing activity of priests. He said, You must have heard from your missionaries that the Indian people are dirty, uncouth and cunning but you ever heard from those missionaries, who are known to give the message of the God (Christ) to the human race, about the tyranny that is being inflicted on Hindus in India ? In order to get a good market in India, the Government has put no tax on the commodities of Liverpool and Manchester but on the other hand two hundred per cent tax is put on salt in order to meet high expenses of the Govt. ? Have your missionaries given you this information ?" Then passing a severe stricture Virchand Gandhi said, "If they have not, whose messengers you will call these people who always side with religion over murder and all sorts of criminals who happen to belong to their country ?”
In this conference of world religions held in Chicago Virchandbhai made a brief but striking presentation of the Jain religion. He expounded the Jain religion in two sections, namely the Jain philosophy and the Jain way of life. He elucidated nine elements, six types of Jivas, subtle thoughts of Jain philosophy regarding Dravyarthika and Paryayarthika naya, Syadvada and other philosophical facts and fascinated all. He expounded the distnct Jain conduct, discussed the Jain way of life and while comparatively discussing the problem of World's existence he explained the cardinal principles of Jainism comparing it with Buddhism and other religions. He established the fact that Jainism is older than Buddhism. His discourses convinced the elite of America of the fact that the Jain religion is an authentic and rational religious tradition.
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