World Jain Conference 1995 6th Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 15

AHIMSA INTERNATIONAL IN RETROPSPECT
Satish Kumar Jain
Secretary General A band of enthusiasts had the missionary zeal to establish an insitution which in course of time may develop into an organisation to propagate Ahimsa and Vegetarianism on national and international levels. Thus, came into being the organisation Ahimsa International on January 26,1973 with the blessings of late Dr.D.S.Kothari, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission and a great scientist and educationist of the country and with late Smt. Om Prabha Jain, Ex-Finance Minister of Haryana State as the first President and Shri Satish Kumar Jain as the founder Secretary General.
Late Dr.D.S.Kothari and Sahu Shryans Prasad Jain were our Patrons. The other Patrons are Shri Sbrenik Kasturbhai, Sahu Ashok Kumar Jain (leading industrialists of the country), Dr. L.M.Singhvi, the internationally renowned jurist, Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade (Dharmasthala) Shri.S.S.Backliwal, a leading jeweller and Rotarian, Shri Dal Chand Jain, an industrialist and former member of Lok Sabha.
Among the objectives which Ahimsa International aims at are creation and fostering of International brotherhood, peace, mutual understanding and love among the people of the world, to propagate the theory and practice of Ahimsa (Non-violence) and Vegetarianism, to promote culture, literature and art to help the destitutes, needy and helpless, to establish Chapters, Foundations, Charitable Trusts and educational institutions, to take delegations to foreign countries and to invite delegations from there for exchange of ideas.
Service to suffering humanity is the field to which Ahimsa International attaches considerable importance. On several occasions, medicines, aid equipments and other articles have been provided to sick and disabled persons and children, food, sweets, woollen, jersies etc., have been provided, to lepers, sewing machines to the needy women, monthly scholarships to the needy families and childrea for education, and building material for village schools etc. Ahimsa International has made a standing offer to all the large hospitals in Delhi to recommend suitable cases for defraying the cost of blood transfusion and life-saving drugs. It proposes to provide medical and equipment assistance to the sick and disabled persons on permanent basis.
Honouring and extending recognition to the scholars and bringing together persons of the various fields have been the endeavour of Ahimsa International. Various large and small functions have been organised to honour the distinguished scientists, scholars and those persons who have established large hospitals in the country and those doctors who are providing medical and social service of a high calibre.
Ahimsa International has instituted an annual award 'Ahimsa International Deputy Mal Jain Memorial Award' of Rs. 21,000/- presented to the authors/scholars taking into consideration the quality of their total works or outstanding quality of a single work on Jain religion, philosophy, culture, literature, journalism, mathematics astrononmy, archaelogy etc.written in Hindi/English languages. It has been instituted with the courtsey of the zealous social figure and businessman of Delhi-Shri Adishwar Lal Jain, in memory of his father, late Shri Deputy Mal Jain, who was a dedicated freedom fighter and