A REPORT
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L to R: Mr R P Chadaria Chairman Institute of Jainology; H E The Deputy High Commissioner, Mr R. Mathai; Minister for State, Home Office Mr Tony McNulty MP; Mr Mahesh Shah, Trustee Institute of Jainology
The third annual Ahimsa Day celebration at the House of Commons was hosted jointly by the Institute of Jainology and the three 'Parliamentary Friends of India' societies: Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats on the 26th October, 2005. This was the first time that the joint hosting was extended to the three societies and moved to the Members Dining Room in the Palace of Westminster from the annexe across the road. The programme commenced with a word of welcome by the Chairman Mr Ratilal Chandaria who set the subject of Ahimsa, Non-violence, as the message of Lord Mahavir, in motion. The Deputy High Commissioner of India, Mr Ranjan Mathai was then invited by Mrs Nisha Sheth, compere for the event, to light the traditional lamps with the Chairman. The next essential act was to invite Samaniji Pratibha Pragya and Samaniji Punya Pragya from the Jain Vishwa Bharati, London Centre to recite the auspicious Jain prayers of Navakar Mantra and Mangalit.
All the speakers, who followed, expressed their pleasure for being invited and endorsed the view that Mahavir's message of non-violence was not only the oldest historically but also the subtlest in its expression. There was total agreement for a need to propagate this message for peace in the world and protection of the environment for the generations to come. The following speakers delivered their views on Ahimsa:
1. Mr Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration & Nationality, the Chief Guest for the event.
2. Mr Mahesh Shah, Trustee of the Institute of Jainology, delivered a keynote speech on Ahimsa from a Jain perspective.
3. Mr Stephen Pound, MP for Ealing North and Chairman of Labour Friends of India.
4. HE the Deputy High Commissioner of India, Mr Ranjan Mathai
5. Mr Nigel Evans, MP Ribble Valley, Chairman of Conservative Friends of India.
6. Dr Mehool H Sanghrajak, Director of Education of the Institute of Jainology. Update on manuscripts cataloguing and education projects.
7. Lord Dholakia, Chairman of Labour Democrat Friends of India
8. Dr Harshad N Sanghrajka, Hon. Secretary of the Institute of Jainology.
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