World Jain Conference 1995 6th Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 62

While the British ruled India from 1857 many Indians including Jains migrated to U.K. in search of jobs and business. During the British regime the Indians mainly settled in U.K. and other British colonies. Migration to U.K. continued even after India became independent in 1947. Their migration to other countries particularly to U.S.A., Canada and countries of Europe mainly started from the sixties of the present century. Immigration on secular basis opened avenues there in engineering, scientific and medical research and in various trads, and professions.
As regards migration to Africa, at the beginning of this century some Jains, specially from Gujrat, sailed to Zanzibar and coastal towns of East Africa. As hinter land of Kenya and Tanzania opened, they went into inland and established their business there. Some of them went to Zambia, Zimbabve, Malawi and even to South Africa. Establishment of Jain Centres And Associations Abroad :
The Jains live in large numbers in U.K., U.S.A., Canada and Kenya. About 30,000 Jains live in U.K. and about 50,000 in U.S.A. and Canada. They are well settled in many other countries of the world. Their qualifications, sincerity and hard work have paid to them good dividends.
It is estimated that about 20 million Jains live in India and about 3 hundred thousand live in various other countries of the world.
For years of sincere working in various countries Jains for the past two decades havve become active socially and religiously. In many cities they have established Jain centres, associations, societies and institutions for celebrating Jain Parvas, religious and social get-togethers. These centres and associations are developing community brotherhood among Jains and many of them have become centres of initiating and developing religious, social, educational, literary and welfare programmes. The dynanism of learned Jain saint Acharya Susbil Kumar Ji and the Jain Preacher Gurudev Chitrabhanu Ji created a good base for Jains working in U.S.A. and Canada. Jain Centres In U.S.A. And Canada :
There have been a lot of organised Jain activities in U.S.A. and Canada since the 1960s. The first Jain centre was established in 1966 in New York city by late Professor Narendra K.Sethi, Professor Duli Chand Jain, Dr. Mahendra K. Pandya and Dr. Surendra Singhvi. Starting from 20 families, which used to celebrate major Jain festivals, the centre now has more than 500 members. It has its own Jain temple.
Gurudev Chitrabhanu came to U.S.A. in 1971 and established the Jain Meditation International Centre in New York city in 1975. Gurudev lectures on Jainism and has published numerous books and prepared video-audio casettes on Jainism.
Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji came to U.S.A. in 1975 with a few Jain monks. He first established an Ashram in Burlington, later in Staten Island (New York) and finally a huge Ashram-Siddhanchalam in 108 acres in Blairstown in New Jersey State in U.S.A. It is the headquarters of the International Mahavir Jain Mission and Las also the office of World Fellowship of Religions. A large temple, inaugurated in 1991, has many impressive large and small statues of Jain Tirthankaras. With the efforts of Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji International Mahavir Jain Mission has been recognised as a non-government Jain organisation in the U.N. Siddhachalam bas developed into a big religious and pilgrim centre with many activities going round the year.