Dr. Tansukh J. Salgia

Dr. Tansukh J. Salgia is the internal Auditor and coordinator of Internal Accounting Control Program at the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, Ohio. Immediately preceding, he was Deputy Director/Chief Fiscal Officer at the Ohio Student Aid Commission in Columbus, Ohio (1993-1997). Immediately preceding, he was Vice President for Finance and Treasurer at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois (1989-1993). Prior to his position at Quincy University, he was Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer at Dyke College in Cleveland, Ohio (1977-1989). He also served in a similar capacity at Lewis University in Illinois and Knoxville College in Tennessee, five years each. Prior to that he worked in London (England) and Bombay, India.

Dr. Salgia received an undergraduate degree in business administration from Vikram University in India, his M.B.A. from Atlanta University and his D.B.A. from Columbia Pacific University. He also attended the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors of India, The Institute of Book keepers in London, Accreditation Council of Accounting (Washington D.C.), and the Government Law College at the University of Bombay. Just recently, Dr. Salgia received the designation of (CGFM) certified Government Financial Manager by the Association of Government Accountants.

Dr. Salgia is the founding president of Bramhi Jain Society U.S.A.; Asian American Association of the Tri-State Area, Quincy, Illinois; and Asian American Services Council of Columbus, Ohio and has served as its Director since 1994. In addition, he was a member of the board of trustees and first president of the Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio, Inc (FICA). In 1986 and 1987, Dr. Salgia, through his extraordinary efforts, was able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the renovation of FICA's India Community Center in Cleveland. He is a founder and past president of the Jain Society of Greater Cleveland, and has also founded and served as president of the International Mahavira Jain Mission (Sidhhachalam) and as Secretary General of the International Jain Conference held in New York City in October, 1981.

He was the major force behind raising funds and acquiring 108 acres of land in New Jersey for the National Jain Temple and Monastery, Siddhachalam. During the fall of 1983, Dr. Salgia served as Chairman of the Great Lakes Regional Convention of the National Federation of Asian Indian Organizations (NFAIO) and in July of 1988 as a member of the planning committee and Treasurer of the Fifth Biennial Convention of NFAIO held in Cleveland.

Dr. Salgia is the founding member of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, Inc.(JAINA) and has served four years as Vice President (1981 - 1985) and four years as President (1985 - 1989). The Federation, at last count, has more than 60 chapters across the United States and Canada. Under his leadership of JAINA, Jain Digest, a quarterly magazine, began publishing and has gained a reputation throughout the world in the Jain community .He is the founding father of the JAIN DIGEST.

Dr Salgia is also a founding member and past president of the Asian/Pacific American Federation of Greater Cleveland, which is comprises, of nine Cleveland-based Asian Communities. He is also a founding member, Director and treasurer of Mahavira World Vision, Inc. In 1988, Dr. Salgia was instrumental in establishing an Asian Advisory Council to the Mayor of the City of Cleveland. Dr. Salgia is the founding member of the Asian American Community Service Council of Columbus, Ohio.

In 1992-93, during the Centennial Celebration of the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Dr. Salgia coordinated the activities of THE JAINS, which represented the worldwide Jain community.

Among his accomplishments, Dr. Salgia has written an essay entitled "History of the Asian-Indian Community in Greater Cleveland" for the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, published by the Indiana University Press. During the past several years, he has published and edited numerous books and articles on Jainism and recently published a book entitled Jainism Nonviolence and Vegetarianism, and Chalo Jinalay Kare Bhavana, Mahaveer Vandana books of stavan and bhajans. He is a regular speaker on peace and nonviolence at local churches and other groups. Dr. Salgia was instrumental in raising needed funds to help defray the cost of the PBS documentary "Ahimsa: Nonviolence" which was released on PBS television stations across The United States in December, 1987.

He was also instrumental in the donation of a large sum of money to the city of Cleveland to help provide food for needy families in the Cleveland Area. Once a month, Dr. Salgia and his family, along with some of his close friends served more than 100 free vegetarian meals to needy Clevelanders at a local church. While living in Quincy, Illinois, Dr. Salgia and his family made monthly visits to a local nursing home and served refreshments to the residents. During the fall of 1986, Dr. Salgia and his family participated in a world peace forum organized by the Inter-Church Council of Greater Cleveland.

Since October 1986 Dr. Salgia has been a member of the Planning Committee and also participated in the Interfaith Convocation to present Jain points of view on various aspects on world peace. He was also a member of the Race Relations Forum of the Greater Cleveland Round Table 1987-1988.

In fall of 1990 Dr. Salgia, his two son's Anup and Amar and many youths and adults from Jain Center of St. Louis and from Chicago area jains were instrumental in crystallizing the idea for the formation of Young Jains of America (YJA).

In 1987-1989 Dr. Salgia has also served as a Trustee of the Nationalities Services Center of Greater Cleveland and as a member of the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee of Cuyahoga Community College of Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Salgia also serves as a Director and Treasurer of the Members First Credit Union of Quincy, Illinois.

In 1992 Dr. Salgia was appointed by the Mayor and the Quincy City Council as commissioner to serve on Quincy Economic Development Loan Committee. Further more in years 1994 and 1995, Dr. Salgia was the co-chair for the Combined Charitable Campaign (United Way) for the Ohio Student Aid Commission in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Salgia has been very active in local, state, and national politics. During 1988, he served as state Co-Chairman for the Ohio Nationalities for the Bush-Quayle campaign. In 1990, he served as state Co-Chairman of the Coalition Division for George V. Voinovich, Governor of Ohio (1991-1999). In addition, he is a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force. In 1992, Dr. Salgia was appointed as a member of the Asian Advisory Board of the National Republican Committee and also a member of the Steering Committee for "Asian Americans for Bush-Quayle '92."

Dr. Salgia was instrumental in repealing a one hundred-year-old law in Illinois, which prohibited the ownership of real and personal property by aliens. Single-handedly he worked hard for almost two years until September 1992, when HB 3794 was signed into law by the Governor of Illinois.

In 1996 Dr. Salgia was appointed commissioner, by the Mayor City of Columbus to serve on Columbus Area Cable Television Commission.

In 1998 Dr.& Mrs. Salgia were invited to participate in The World Culture and Sports Festival and the Convocation on "Family Ethics and World Peace" sponsored by the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace, held in New York City. In February of 1999 and 2000, Dr. Salgia was invited again to participate in a World Culture and Sports Festival in Seoul, Korea. In October of 1999 he was also invited to participate in an International seminar for "True Families as the Foundation for World Peace in the New Millennium", held in Washington, D. C, sponsored by The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace. Dr. Salgia presented a paper on the subject from the point of view of the Jain religion. In October 2000 and in January 2001 Dr. Salgia was also invited to participate in all day seminars at United Nations organized by Inter-religious International Federation for World Peace.

In January 2001 Dr. Salgia received his commission as Notary public from Governor State of Ohio.

On May 22,2001 Dr. Salgia Participated in a history making Jain prayer in the United Stares House of Representative (Congress). On September 19, 2001 Dr Salgia organized Jain prayer in the Ohio Senate and spoke about Jain value of peace and non-violence and the tragedy took place in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Dr. Salgia has been awarded several certificates of commendation and appreciation for his voluntary services to the community and for his national activities by the Mayor of the City of Cleveland, Cleveland City Council, Ohio House of Representatives, Congresswoman Mary Rose Okar, Congressman Louis Stokes, Bishop of Cleveland, The Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio, The National Federation of Asian Indian Organizations, the Asian/Pacific American Federation, Governor of the State of Ohio and the White House.

In 1993, Dr. Salgia was appointed to serve on the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve. Dr. Salgia was included in Who's Who in the World 1993-1994, and Who's Who in America, 49th ed., by Marquis publications.

In 1997 at the 9th biennial convention of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), Dr. Salgia was honored for his services to the Jain community and awarded him the title of "JAINA RATNA" (Jewel of Jain Community) in Toronto, Canada. In 1999 Dr. Salgia co-founded an international Quarterly publication "Jain Spirit magazine" which has worldwide circulation where he serves as director and also coordinate North American activities for circulation and finance.

A citizen of the United States for over 28 years, Dr. Salgia and his wife Bharati resides in Columbus, Ohio.
COMMUNITY SERVICES ACTIVITIES

In recognition of community Services, Dr. Salgia have received special Award certificate from
Member, U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio House of Representatives, Governor, State of Ohio, Cleveland City Council and Mayor, City of Cleveland, Ohio and The White House, Washington, D.C.
10/19/2002 11:48 AM

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Address : 1884 Dorsetshire Road , Columbus, OH 43229 , Tele./ Fax: (614) 899-2678
E-Mail : tsalgia@worldnet.att.net
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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