YJA Convention 1996 07 San Francisco CA Second

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 22

ANEKANTVAAD: SITUATIONS
By: Pavan Zaveri & Ruturaj Kalamkar
The Jain principle of Anekantvaad contains much more than a simple translation can provide. Through this presentation and the ensuing discussion, we hope to bring a better understanding of the scope and breadth of Anekantvaad. One part of this concept is developing a mentality where different viewpoints are heard and taken into consideration. The following skits are staged to allow you to do just that: Open your mind to other points of view which we encounter in daily life.
One skit presents a Jain mother and daughter in conversation with the daughter's friend, a Muslim girl. When involved in social gatherings, the mother has no qualms on her daughter's activities. However, when religion becomes the focus of an event, Mother feels attending non-Jain events to be problematic. The participants from the youth groups in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahorna, are Meghna Mehta (Farida), Niyati Sheth (Pooja), Jill Shah (Mother) and Neha Shah (Narrator).
A second skit relates the common conflict of choosing between Indian and non-Indian social events. A teenage boy is invited to a party held by some of his high school friends. On that same night, the family has been invited to a family friend's home for the evening. The teenage boy and his parents have differing views on what should be done, and this leads to the conflict. In the end, the teenager is left in a dilemma. The participants from the Jain Youth Group of North Texas are Moshmee Kalarnkar (Geetaben), Manish Mehta (Bapuji), Veeral Rathod (Nikhil), Hemali Shah (Hemali), Rajiv Shah (Rajiv), and Khushali Zaveri (Shardaben).
The next situation is an issue which plagues humanity worldwide. Though most Jains feel they are relatively tolerant and accepting of most cultures, certain situations reflect a starkly different viewpoint. The first year of college often gives a freshman a potluck roommate at the campus dormitories. The Jain parents bring their oldest child to college to move into her dorm room. From the appearance of her roomrnate's belongings, the roommate seems to be a neat, studious girl to the Jain family. However, when the Jain family meets the Mexican family, reactions cause quite a commotion. The participants from the Jain Fellowship of Houston are Alpa Chheda (Mama), Virnal Chedda (Narrator), Bela Dedhia (Juanita), Vandana Khemsara (Vandana), Swapna Mehta (Sunitaben), Aalap Shah (Rajeshbhai), and Paras Shah (Papa).
Finally, the fourth skit touches on a subject quickly becoming a topic turning heads, homophobia. The location is an office appreciation gathering where a woman in the company is being promoted based on excellent work on the last project. All the co-workers are very happy for her dedicated and outstanding effort and work.
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