"AN APPEAL FOR DONATIONS FOR SHRI V.R. GANDHI MEMORIAL
From: Pravin Shah kenpet007@hotmail.com

WJC and JAINA have recently jointly founded "Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi Memorial Samiti with Pujya Chitrabhanuji as Chairman with the following members:Shri Pratap Bhogilal, Shri N.P.Jain, Shri Mahesh V. Gandhi, Mrs. Rakshaben J. Shah and Shri Pravin C. Shah (representing JAINA).

The Samiti is formed with the following objectives:
1. To suitably modify the current VRG's birth home with modern amenities in Mahuva, Gujarat and to have a permanent memorial in it. 2. To take necessary steps that the Samiti may feel appropriate for raising awareness of his mission, his memorial and pursue with the Government of India the matter regarding issuing the commemorative postal stamp in his honor.

He was responsible in closing down the slaughter house in Sametshikhar, abolishing poll tax on Jain pilgrims at Shatrunjaya and sending money and shipload of grains to India from U.S.A. in the worst famine of 1896-97, raising awareness in the West of the importance of Jainism as an ancient vibrant world religion, propagating the relevance of Jain tenets Ahimsa, Anekant and Aparigriha and spread Bhagwan Mahavir's message across the world and defending the Indian culture and Hindu religion under the unjust criticism in the Parliament and later on, in spite of lot of odds, by attending the first ever Parliament of World Religions held at Chicago in 1893 and visiting England, France, Germany and other places during 1895 and his subsequent two visits to the West, Europe and U.S.A. He wanted to continue these activities for a long time but unfortunately death  snatched him away at an early age of 37 and this has left an unbridgeable void. He sacrificed his brilliant legal career, lived and died for the cause of Jainism and service to humanity.

Swami Vivekanand wrote in 1894 while he was in U.S.A. " This man defends his countrymen and religion. People of this country like him very much. But what are they doing who sent him over? They are trying to outcast him."

One of the U.S.periodicals then wrote " The influence of Vivekanand's philosophy has been kept alive by his disciples by founding organizations like Ramkrishna Mission/Society, etc. whereas, it is a matter of great pity that no attempt has been made to keep Virchandbhai's memory green/fresh. What is this if not ingratitude....?"

For this VRG Memorial a sufficient funds need to be collected. The names of  Donors who donate U.S. 250 Dollars and/or equivalent will be engraved in brass plaque or so , to be kept in VRG Memorial and List of such donors will 
be published in Jain Digest and or in Jain Magazines for acknowledging their contribution. Receipts will be also issued.

Your generous, tax-deductible contribution to this worthy cause will be greatly appreciated. Please make your check payable to JAINA Indicate VRG Memorial Fund in Memo, your name, address, phone #, email address in upper left corner of your check or separately and mail either to JAINA Treasurer Mr. Jitendra Turakhia, 4013 Pawnee Dr. Liverpool, N.Y. 13090 or to Samiti member Pravin C. Shah, 28 Dyckman Ave., New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040. Email: kenpet007@hotmail.com".

Indian friends can donate to World Jain Confederation (WJC) and WJC has an 80G Indian Income Tax Exemption Certificate under Section 80G. Please make the cheques payable to WJC A/c. VRG Memorial Samiti.

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For further information , contact

World Jain Confederation
Shah & Nahar Industrial Estate
338/340 A Wing, 3rd Floor
Lower Parel (West)
Mumbai 400 013.

Tel./Fax No. 91 22 5663 5823
email: wjc@vsnl.net

Pravin C. Shah
Member, W.J.C./JAINA Shri V.R. Gandhi Memorial Samti
New York, 516-248-8265
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