Vol. No. 5 December, 2000 Issue
Editors :P.L.Jain, Dr.Sulekh Jain, A. K. Jain	First News Magazine of Jainism on Internet Circulation 6500 Copies ( Jains Only )	www.jainsamaj.org

Comprehensive Panchang based on Jain Tradition
A comprehensive Ten years Panchang based on Jain tradition for the period Mahavir birth Samvat 2601 to 2610 has been brought out on a web site named, www.jainastronomy.com by Pandit Mahesh Kumar Jain, S. D. High School, Jain Temple Road, Dimapur – 797112. The E-Mail address for contacting the producer is: vardhmanpanchang@yahoo.com. Advertisements are also accepted on the web site.  (Source: Jain Gazette, 16th Nov. 2000)

Digambar Jain Conference at Sangli
The conference of Dharma-Teerth Sangrakshini Mahasabha (All India Digambar Jain Mahasabha) was organised at Sangli (Maharashtra) under the patronage of Bhattarak Shri Charukierti Swami Ji on 21st and 22nd October, 2000. A two-day seminar was also organised on Tatwarth Sutra on this occasion. Shri Nirmal Kumar Sethi, Founding President of the Mahasabha presided over the function. Various eminent learned speakers took part in the discussions.  (Source: Jain Gazette, 16th Nov.2000)

Grief Sticken - Shri Nirmal Kumar Sethi
Shri Nirmal Kumar Sethi, National President of Digambar Jain Mahasabha lost his 36 years old son, Shri Navin Jain in a fatal road accident on the 10th November, 2K. Ahimsa Foundation conveys condolences to Shri N.K. Sethi on the sad occasion.  (Source: Jain Gazette, 16th Nov. 2000).

Initiation Program at Jaipur
As announced earlier, Diksha (Initiation programme) of four sadhwis will be held in the first week of December, 2000. Km. Ekta Daga will be initiated at Jaipur by Mahasati Maina Sundari Ji and Mahasati Shri Ratan Kunwar Ji Maharaj disciple of Acharya Shri Hira chand Ji Mahara. Shri Ashok Gahlot, C.M. of Rajasthan will be the chief guest on the occasion. Shri Mofat Raj JI Munot, Shri Suresh Dada Jain will be present as Specially invited guests. The other four candidates, Km. Uma Kanthed, Usha Kanthed, Pushpa Baghmar and Neelam Jain will be initiated at Jodhpur on the 7th December by revered Shri Basant Muni, Gautam Muni, Mahasati Lad Kunwar Ji, Sayar Kunwar Ji and Shanti Kunwar Ji.   (Source: Jinwani, November, 2000)

Samiti Constituted for 2600th Birth Centenary of Bhagwan Mahavir
In order to celebrate the 2600th Birth Centenary of Bhagwan Mahavir in a befitting manner, a 59 member has been constituted at national level under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpai and Deputy Chairmanship of Shri Anant Kumar, Minister for tourism and Culture. Representatives from various sects and sampradaya of Jain samaj, educationists, scholars and social workers have been nominated in the committee. Notification has been issued in the Government Gazette in this respect as informed by Bhagwan Mahavir 2600 Janma Kalyan Mahotsava Samiti.   (Source: Jinwani, November, 2000)

Bhagwan Mahavir Foundation announces Awards
Bhagwan Mahavir Foundation has announced three awards at a grand ceremony held on 5th October, 2000 at Chennai, each amounting to Rs. 5 lakhs to the following persons:

1. Dr. K. M. Gangawal on Ahimsa and vegetarianism.

2. Cancer Institute, Chennai on Education and Medicine.

3. Tripura Adivasi Mahila Samiti on Community and social service.  (Source: Jinwani, November, 2000)

Messages on Telepone on 1st April, 2000
It has been announced by the Central Communications Minister, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan that messages, like “Best wishes on Mahavir Jayanti”, “Be Ahimsak” and “Live and let live” will be played for the whole day on telecast on telephones on the 6th April, 2001.    (Source: Jinwani, November, 2000)

Mahavira is for Everyone
Union minister for Culture and Tourism Ananth Kumar and The Times Group chairman Mrs. Indu Jain raise their hands to make Lord Mahavira's 2600th birth anniversary next year a memorable event. While Ananth Kumar urged the Jain community to adopt village for overall development , US-based Inida Abroad's editor and publisher Gopal Raju ( fourth from right) offered his international news agency's network to propagate Mahavira's message to make society a better place to live in . On the extreme right is The Times of India's managing editor Ramesh Chandra and on the extreme left is Navbharat Times'  printer and publisher Puneet Jain.

Mahavira peace award for Kofi Annan
United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan will be presented  the " Millennium Peace Award" for his outstanding efforts towards bringing and maintaining world peace through non violent means.

The award has been instituted by the Bhagwan Mahavira 2600th Janam Kalyanak Mahotsav Samiti. It carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs.10 Lacs. It will be presented at a function here on April 5, on the eve of the 2600th Birth Anniversary 24th Jain Tirthankar Mahavira.

In a letter of Annan recently, Samiti president Shri Rikhab C. Jain said the award has been extended to him so that Mahavira's massage of love, compassion of non violence could be sent across the globe to further the cause of world peace. The Samiti has urged the U.N. secretary-General to confirm the personal acceptance of the award.

Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, had emphasized non violence and love for all living beings, jain has said in his letter, and added that from his principle of " Anekantawad " (multi-theism) arose the idea of equality of all religion and coexistence of all philosophies and religions

Mahavira's philosophy was directly linked to the principle of preserving world peace through non violence and Mahatma Gandhi was the best possible example of his follower, jain said.