Virachand Raghavji Gandhi (Gujarati: વીરચંદ રાઘવ ગાંધી; 1864– 7 August 1901) [1] from Mahuva was a Jain scholar and author who worked to defend the rights of Jains, and who, to great acclaim, represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893. He lectured widely, and wrote multiple books on Jainism, religion, and philosophy.
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VRG, a polyglot who reputedly spoke fourteen languages, was educated as a lawyer.[2] In 1885, at the age of 21, VRG became the first honorary secretary of the Jain Association of India.[2] During this time the ruler of Gujarat levied a tax on pilgrims visiting Mount Shatrunjay, Palitana. With great courage and at the risk of his life, VRG fought against this tax, which he considered to be a horrible injustice. During the course of this fight Gandhi met Lord Reay, the British colonial governor of Bombay, and Colonel John Watson of the Kathiawar Agency. With the help of these two individuals, VRG ultimately negotiated an annual fixed payment of Rs. 15000, rather than an individual tax on each pilgrim. Because of this fixed payment, Jains were able to visit their holy shrines freely.[3]
In 1891 an English man by the name of Boddam started a slaughterhouse near Mount Sametshikhar, a holy place of Jain pilgrimage. VRG spent six months in Calcutta learning Bengali and preparing his case against the factory, and was eventually successful in getting the factory closed.
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Gandhi represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, at which he won a silver medal. Gandhi, known today as VRG, was most likely both the first Jain and the first Gujarati to travel to the United States and his statue still stands at the Jain temple in Chicago. In his time he was a world-famous personality.
The Great Jain Saint Param Pujya Acharya Vijayanandsuri, also known as Acharya Atmaram, had initially been invited to represent Jainism at the Parliament, but as Jain monks do not travel overseas, could not attend. He therefore recommended the bright young scholar VRG to be the emissary for the religion. Atmaramji provided six months training to VRG. His disciple, Param Pujya Vijay Vallabsuri, who is described in Natuji Shah's book "Jainism: The World of Conquerors" also assisted Gandhi in the preparation. The 29 year-old VRG impressed the Parliament with his expressiveness, brilliance, and tremendous erudition.
Strangers In This Land by E. Allen Richardson mentions this Parliament and Gandhi's subsequent interview with The New York Times.
VRG was a contemporary to Swami Vivekanand, who deeply admired him. VRG was facing criticism over his sea voyage, which was at the time considered unholy. Vivekananda, impressed with VRG 's adherence to vegetarianism in the face of the cold Chicago climate came to his defense: in a 1894 letter to Haridas Viharidas Desai, Diwan of Junagadh, he wrote “Now here is Virchand Gandhi, the Jain whom you knew well in Bombay. This man never takes anything but mere vegetables even in this terribly cold climate and tooth and nail tries to defend his countrymen and the religion. The people of this country like him very well. But what are they doing who sent him over? They are trying to outcast him.”
Herbert Warren studied Jainism under him and adopted the Jain religion. Warren published a book on VRG's lectures titled Herbert Warren's Jainism.
The American newspaper, the Buffalo Courier wrote regarding VRG, "of all Eastern scholars, it was this youth whose lectures on Jain Faith and Conduct was listened to with the greatest interest and attention". Later, in Kasadova, he delivered a lecture on 'Some Mistakes Corrected' on 8 August 1894, which prompted the citizens of the city to award him a gold medal.
At Parliament VRG said:
You know, my brothers and sisters, that we are not an independent nation, we are subjects of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, 'defender of the faith'. But if we are a nation in all that name implies, with our own government and our own rulers, with our laws and institutions controlled by us, free and independent, I affirm that we should seek to establish and forever maintain peaceful relations with all the nations of the world." "It is an astonishing fact that foreigners have been constantly attacking India and in the face of all this aggression the soul of India has stood vital and watchful. Her conduct and religion are safe and the whole world looks at India with a steady gaze." He added "Cultural distinctions, agriculture, art, artistic skill, literature, good conduct, means of knowledge, science, hospitality, feminism, love, and respect - all these are found in India in quite a different form. If that culture was purchasable, England would have purchased it, adopted it. But it has not happened, it cannot happen.
VRG corrected the commonly-held impression of India as an uncultured and uncivilized land of Maharajahs, tigers, cobras, magicians, and heathens. He was highly nonsectarian, speaking as a Jain, but always as an Indian first. He had studied Buddhism, Vedanta Philosophy, Christianity, and western philosophy, all of which enabled him to converse on a wide field of subjects and present his views with confidence. VRG had a clear vision, an unbiased approach, and an ability to explain with clarity. VRG defended Indian culture and the Hindu religion from unjust criticism in the Parliament and elsewhere by elaborating its principles. He praised Mogul Emperor Akbar for his equal treatment of all religions.
VRG propagated the relevance of Jain tenets and spread Bhagwan Mahavira's message of non-violence. In total, he delivered about 535 speeches on Jainism, other religions, and social and cultural lives in India, all of which received wide publication. He was routinely accorded both a warm welcome and honor by many literary and spiritual institutions, churches and societies. He was presented with medals and was requested to prolong his stay. People in the U.S., and in the West in general, liked him so much that they invited him back two more times, first in in 1897 and then in 1899. Upon each of his returns from the West, he was celebrated at large functions presided over by dignitaries; first by Premchad Raychand in 1896 and later by the Chief Justice of Bombay, Mahadeo Govind Ranade in 1899.
VRG died from a hemorrhage of the lungs on 7 August, 1901 in Mahuwar, near Bombay, India.[1]
The following literature was written by VRG or was compiled from his speeches and writings by various authors:
In 1964 Shri Dhirajji Mohandasji Virchandji Gandhi and Shri Rasikji Mohandasji Virchandji Gandhi handed over all materials and medals related to VRG to Shri MJV. Shri MJV, after receiving permission from all of VRG's living family members, was entrusted with the role of caretaker of the materials and was given the tasks of spreading awareness about VRG and of setting up a museum to the same.
In the 1990s, at the initiative of Shri Nemuji Chandaria (Institute of Jainology), Shri Tansukhji Salgia, and Padmashri Kumarpalji Desai statues of VRG were erected in Chicago and Mahuva.
On November 8, 2002, the Indian Postal Service honored VRG by issuing a postal stamp with his image. The honor came about largely as the result of work done by Shri Pravinji C. Shah and the World Jain confederation, with the blessings of Param Pujya Shri Chitrabhanuji, and with support from Shri Prakashji Mody, Shri Pratapji Bhogilal, Shri Maheshji Gandhi, Mahesh Vadilalji Gandhi, Pradip Jain, and Daulat Jain.
Speeches and Writings of Shri Virchand R. Gandhi, Editor - Dr. K. K. Dixit, Publisher - Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Bombay
Author- Acharya Shri Shubhachandradev Translator - Shri Virchand R. Gandhi Commentary - Anandnandan Lalan Complied - Shri Pannalal R. ShahPublisher - The Jain Association of India Bombay
Selected speeches taken from books 1, 2, and 3. Publisher - Vallabh Smarak Nidhi, Bombay
Edited By Gunwant Barvalia, Mahesh Gandhi, Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh (Published by Pravin C Shah Chair & Prakash Mody - Federation of Jain Association of North America, VRG Committee)
Authors : Dr. Bipin Doshi & Preeti Shah First Edition 1000 copies.
Authors : Dr. Bipin Doshi and Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh [Published in National Magazine : Eternal India - August, 2010 issue]
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