Jai Jinendra!

I was in India from Dec. 31, 2003 through Jan. 27, 2004 and found myself very busy with the JAINA related activities, Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya, visiting temples, and of course paying visits to friends and families. I managed to squeeze 9-day long vacation in beautiful Kerala too. Overall it was a highly satisfying experience.

I started with a visit to the Bidada Medical Camp and Vardhman Nagar. I was moved by the impact JAINA has and continues to make on that part of the country. It was fascinating to see so many volunteers from the North America as well as from India who came to render selfless services to thousands of patients. Thanks to Vijaya Chhedda and Dr. Dhiraj Shah, gracious hosts, who made my trip possible.

You probably know that JAINA has built a village near Bhuj-named “Vardhman Nagar” to help the victims of the Gujarat Earthquake. This time, we donated an ambulance to help the residents meet in their medical emergency needs (see the photo above). In my mind, this is another act of kindness of JAINA.

I attended reunion function organized by The Federation of Alumni of Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya. To an audience of about 1500 people, I strongly appealed to the management to change the Vidyalaya constitution to admit all Jains. Many people came to see me afterwards and expressed strong support to my line of thinking.

I visited with Dr. Soneji, Jitendra Shah of L. D. Institute of Indology and Shri Shekharchandra Jain in Ahmedabad. I also met Shantilal Muttha, President of Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana(BJS)and Federation of Jain Educational Insitututes (FJEI), Shri Pratapbhai Bhogilal of World Jain Confederation (WJC) ,Dr. N. P. Jain, Mr. C N Sanghavi and Mr. C D Shah of JAIN Social Group.

Because of our humanitarian/social/religious activities and conscious effort to unite all Jains, JAINA seems to have earned a lot of recognition and respect in India. We have become a role model and that is the reason why other organizations such as WJC, BJS, FJEI, Veerayatan, and Jain Social Group have expressed strong desire to work with us on programs of mutual interest.

India has finally started moving! I noticed a lot of improvements. People are opening up and are willing to listen. This creates a lot of opportunity for JAINA to join hands with like-minded people and be of service to a far greater number of people within in our own community and outside.

JAINA has become an instrument of positive changes. Please join us in whatever way you can.

Best Regards,
Anop Vora

On March 6, Saturday at "MIRACLES OF MERCY GALA" of World Medical Relief in Detroit, MI, JAINA was awarded this prestigious award because of its Outstanding Commitment to Health Care Needs of the Global Community. Award was received by Kirit Daftary, Vice Pres. of JAINA and Dr. Jaya and Ramesh Shah, Chairpersons of "Wheels of Hope" Program. Banquet was attended by more than 300 people from Greater Detroit area; JAINA was represented by 20 people most of them from Jain Society of Greater Detroit. Mistress of Ceremonies was Sherry Margolois- Anchor, FOX 2 WJBK Detroit. The event has been highly publicized in all Detroit Newspapers, Local TV and "Geetmala" Program of Narendra Sheth.

Pavapuri – The Nirvanbhoomi of Lord Mahavirswami invokes a mental picture of serenity and reverence more than any other Teerthdham. But the present day reality on the ground draws a disturbing picture. The Jalmandir lake is so polluted that there are no lotus blooming on the surface and town people are using it to wash laundry or worst for fishing. The Government of India has recently awarded funds for the cleanup of the lake but the town has definitely deteriorated and is crying out for help. Hardly any Jains live there, vegetarianism is all but forgotten and most kids practice just one thing – begging. Town elders are blaming Jain Pilgrims of having turned their town to Beggar’s heaven!

Acharya Shri Chandanaji of Veerayatan has a solution to this blemish on Jain Heritage. She has purchased a parcel of land to build a Jain School for a thousand students to pull the kids out of the cycle of poverty and instill Jain values in them. Acharya Shri Chandanaji would like to have state government declaring it a holy site – a zone of non violence – preventing selling of meat or fish etc at Pavapuri, Lachhwar and Shri Samet Shikharji. She has asked JAINA to help in the building of the school. JAINA’s participation can be a powerful statement of our unity and our resolve to make a difference in the lives of thousands in a land dear to all Jains everywhere. If you would like to help, or have any suggestion, please write to me @ Dilipvshah@aol.com. If there is enough interest, World Community Service of JAINA with the help of other committees would like to contribute to the project on behalf of JAINA.

Dilip V Shah,
Philadelphia
March 20, 2003