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In the morning of February 8, 1985, the Conference started with the hoisting of the flag by Shri Ummed C. Golechha, business magnate of London. It was followed by recitation of 'Namokar Mantra' by the American disciplcs of Acharya Sushil Kumarji who enchanted the whole audience with their melodious recitaion, the sweet and scintillating invocational music of Kum. Anita Jain of New Delhi and Prof. Pratap Kumar Toliya and his family of Bangalore. Kumari Anita Jain is a gifted musician and a regular artist of Indian T. V. and Radio. Prof. Toliya has given performance in many countries of the world and various parts of India. He has to his credit many cassettes.
The Conference was inaugrated at 10.000 a. m. on February 8, 1985 in the Main Hall of Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi (India) and was attended by over 1300 delegates and participants from various countries and India. Shri K. C. Pant. the then Union Minister of Education, inaugurated the Conference by lighting the lamp. He urged the people to fight against violence and extremism in the country and strive for peace, disarmament and non-violence in the world as taught by Bhagwan Mahavir. He said that the challenge before the people today is to make the right to live a fundamental right, putting it above that of the mass destructive nuclear weapons. The United Nations recognised the right to live as a fundamental right. Peace loving people may rouse public opinion in support of this and fight against the nuclear weapons. He further said that man with the help of science was now utilising his knowledge for making destructive weapons. There was, therefore, greater need today than ever to synthesise science and spirituality to ensure the welfare of mankind. According to him, violence tantamounted to negation of real meaning of religion, as all faiths aimed at and advocated universal brotherhood. He felt happy that the Jains were an important and integral part of Indian polity and it was a matter of pride that they were spreading their culture abroad. He emphasised that in secular India no religion should regard its importance above national integrity.
Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain, Chairman Reception Committee, welcomed the Jain saints, Chief Guest and delegates and participants. He spoke of the significance of message of Ahimsa in all ages. The Jain community has always. worked for world peace and would continue to do so in future. He said that the cult of violerce has to be combated as one of its dangerous fall-out was the assassination of the Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The Jain community has always opposed violence and it would strive to spread the message of peace and love through the Conference which would be given an organised. form. He further said that Jainism has given us thought to live a virtuous life and its principles should be practised. He stressed on propagation of vegetarianism and large scale publication of literature on non-violence and moral education.
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