Virchand Gandhi
| Virchand Gandhi | |
|---|---|
 Virchand Gandhi | |
| Native name | વીરચંદ રાઘવ ગાંધી |
| Born |
August 25, 1864 Mahuva, Gujarat |
| Died |
August 7, 1901 Mahuwar, near Mumbai, India |
Cause of death | hemorrhage of the lungs |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | B.A.(Law) |
| Alma mater | University of Bombay |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Jain Scholar |
| Known for | Representing Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions, Chicago 1893 |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Children | Mohan |
| Parents | Raghavji Tejpalji Gandhi |
Virachand Gandhi (Gujarati: વીરચંદ ગાંધી; Hindi: वीरचंद गाँधी) (25 August 1864 - 7 August 1901)[1] was a Jain scholar who represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions in 1893.[2] A barrister by trade, he worked to defend the rights of Jains, and wrote and lectured extensively on Jainism, other religions, and philosophy.
Background and early accomplishments
Gandhi was born in Mahuva, Gujarat, India on 1864.[3] His father, Raghavji Tejpalji Gandhi, was a businessman.[2][4] A polyglot who reputedly spoke fourteen languages, Gandhi was educated as a lawyer.[2][3][5] In 1885, at the age of 21, he became the first honorary secretary of the Jain Association of India.[5]
During his term, he fought against a tax being levied by the ruler of Gujarat on pilgrims visiting Mount Shatrunjay, Palitana.[3] 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, he ultimately negotiated an annual fixed payment of Rs. 15000, rather than an individual tax on each pilgrim.[4]
Gandhi also fought to close a pig slaughterhouse that had been started in 1891 close to Mount Sametshikhar, a holy place of Jain pilgrimage. Gandhi spent six months in Calcutta learning Bengali and preparing his case against the factory. He was eventually successful in getting the factory closed.[3]
Trip to the World Parliament of Religions
Gandhi represented Jainism at the first World Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893.[3] His statue still stands at the Jain temple in Chicago.
Acharya Vijayanand Suri, 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 recommended Gandhi to go in his stead and serve as the emissary for the religion. Atmaram and his disciple Vijay Vallabsuri trained Gandhi for six months. Gandhi received a positive response at the Parliament,[3][4] and was asked to deliver more lectures. He ultimately stayed two years in the U.S. and one year in the U.K.[3] He went outside India to promote Jain values on two other occasions.[3] He is known for giving about 535 lectures on Jainism and have attracted followers from outside India to Jainism.[3] He was awarded various medals for his lectures.[3]
Strangers In This Land by E. Allen Richardson mentions this Parliament and Gandhi's subsequent interview with The New York Times.
He was a contemporary to Swami Vivekanand, who deeply admired him. He faced criticism over his sea voyage, which was at the time considered unholy. Vivekananda, impressed with his adherence to vegetarianism in the face of the cold Chicago climate came to his defense: in an 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, who studied Jainism under him and adopted the Jain religion, published a book on his lectures titled Herbert Warren's Jainism.
The American newspaper, the Buffalo Courier wrote regarding him, "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.[6]
At Parliament he 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.
He had studied Buddhism, Vedanta Philosophy, Christianity, and western philosophy. He praised Mogul Emperor Akbar for his equal treatment of all religions.
He propagated the relevance of Jain tenets and 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 invited two more times, first in 1897 and then in 1899 to the West.[2]
Later life and death
He founded Gandhi Philosophical Society and the Society for the Education of Women in India (SEWI) for women education. He participated in Pune session of Indian National Congress in 1895 as a representative of Bombay state.[2][3] He lectured on Indian politics and industry in Large Hall of William Science building on December 19, 1898. He also participated at the international conference of commerce in 1899 and represented Asia.[3] He settled tax disputes of Palitana and Shikharji piggery case.[2]
He died at the age of thirty-seven[3] of hemorrhaging of the lungs on 7 August 1901 at Mahuwar, near Mumbai, India.[1][2] He was remembered on 1993 Parliament of World religions.[3]
Works
- Unknown Life of Jesus Christ: translation from French to English. It was a manuscript found in Tibet.[7]
- The Life of Saint Iss[8]
- Religion and philosophy of the Jainas[9]
Collection
- Speeches and Writings of Virchand R. Gandhi, collected and edited by Bhagu F. Karbhari
Recognition
- He was accorded both a welcome and honor by many literary and spiritual institutions, churches and societies. He was presented with medals.[2]
- A museum was also constructed dedicated to him in 1964.[2]
- In the 1990s, his statues were erected in Chicago and Mahuva.[2]
- A drama based on his life, Gandhi Before Gandhi, was performed 200 times throughout the world.[2]
- On November 8, 2002, the Indian Postal Service honored him by issuing a postal stamp with his image.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Howard, Mrs. Charles (April 1902). The Open Court, Vol. 16, Nr. 4 "The Death of Mr. Virchand R. Gandhi". Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Company.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 Tribune, India. "Virchand Gandhi — a Gandhi before Gandhi An unsung Gandhi who set course for his namesake". India Tribune. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Shah, Natubhai (2004), Jainism: The World of Conquerors, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 55–56, ISBN 978-81-208-1938-2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Virachand Gandhi
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Desai (ed.), Mohanlal Dalichand (1936). "Virchand R. Gandhi in America", in Jainacharya Shri Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Grantha (Jainacharya Shri Atmanand Centenary Commemoration Volume). Bombay. pp. 4–9.
- ↑ "JAINA,VRG Scholarship Brochure". JAINA,VRG Committee.
- ↑ Gandhi, Virchand R. (2003). The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ. Kessinger Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 0766138984. ISBN 9780766138988.
- ↑ Gandhi, Virchand R. (2010). The Life of Saint Iss. Kessinger Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 1161579117. ISBN 9781161579116.
- ↑ Gandhi, Virchand (1993). Nagīna Jī Śāha, ed. Religion and philosophy of the Jainas. Jain International.
- Virchand Gandhi, a Gandhi before Gandhi,(Page 70-81)
Authors : Dr. Bipin Doshi and Pankaz Chandmal Hingarh [Published in National Magazine : Eternal India - August, 2010 issue]
- Virchand Gandhi First Gujarati Narkesari to Visit USA, page2,English
Published in Western Times, 25 July 2012
- Dharamveer Krantiveer - Barrister Shree Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, Gujarati,
Author: Chandresh Dhiraj Gandhi (Great Grand son of Virchand Gandhi), Published in Rakhewal Daily newspaper on 25-08-2012 (page 6) and Penmen Daily Newspaper on 27-08-2012 (Page 7-8)
Further reading
- Gandhi, Virchand R. (1970). Dr. K. K. Dixit, ed. The Systems of Indian Philosophy:Speeches and Writings of Virchand R. Gandhi. Mumbai: Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Bombay.
- Shubhachandradevsuri (1989). Pannalal R. Shah, ed. Savirya-Dhyan (in Gujarati). Gandhi, Virchand R. (trans.), Anandnandan Lalan (commentary). Bombay: The Jain Association of India.
- Dr. Bipin Doshi & Preeti Shah (2009). Gandhi Before Gandhi.
- Selected speeches of V. R. Gandhi, 1964 English
- Selected speeches taken from books 1, 2, and 3. Publisher - Vallabh Smarak Nidhi, Bombay
- A tribute to 19th Century Indian Legend : Shri Virchandji Raghavji Gandhi, 2009, English
- 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)
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