Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain

Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain is an eminent public figure of India who has distinguished himself in several fields of social welfare and literary and cultural activities. Besides being a leading industrialist-philanthropist and an elderly leader of majority of Jains of India, he commands universal respect and regard among the people in general for his loving, simple and philanthropic nature and dedicated services. His is an integrated Indian personality who has equal respect for all religions.

Born on November 3, 1908 in the well-known public spirited Sahu Zamindar family of Najibabad, district Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh.

Shri Jain took business career in 1938 at the age of 30 and shifted his headquarters to Lahore. He became Vice-Chairman of a leading Insurance Company there. He continued to take active interest in various social activities there and also joined the National Movement for Freedom.

In 1943, he was arrested for taking part in "Quit India Movement". Charged by the British Govt. for financing the movement and harbouring the Freedom fighters he was under detention in Lahore for two months. Immediately on his release, he was externed from Lahore and then chose Bombay as the centre of his social and business activities.

As a leading Industrialist of the country, Shri Jain was President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry during Chinese Aggression in 1962. His initiative and drive to help the government yielded tremendous results and crores of rupees were contributed by the business community.

Shri Jain has been a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) for Six years (1952-1958). He was Justice of Peace and a Special Executive Magistrate at Bombay.

Shri Jain served on the Board of Directors of various well known Indian companies. His dedicated and devoted services in the fields of industry finance, commerce and management have earned him a place on the Committees of leading commercial bodies. As President of FICCI he worked on a number of Union Government agencies. In recognition of his services FICCI has made him Honorary Member, which is a rare honour.

He was  President of Indian National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce . He was also President of Afro-Asian Organization for Economic Cooperation.

Shri Jain patronised various religious and social institutions, President /Chairman of various All-India Institutions and Trustee of several such organizations. He founded Smt. Murti Devi Kanya Pathshala at Najibabad in the name of his mother, during early stage of his career. Now it is a college. "Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain Arts and Commerce College " has been established by him at Dhrangadhra in Gujarat State and "Kamlawati Higher Secondary School" in the name of his wife in Sahupuram, Tamil Nadu.

Shri Jain was active member of Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti and took leading part in its celebrations. He was President of Bhagwan Bahubali Pratishthapana Sahastrabadi and Mahamastakabhisheka Celebrations Working Committee which was a world event at Sravanabelgola in Karnataka State in February 1981. He took very active interest in making the celebrations a grand success, and the Jain community conferred upon him the respectable title of "Shravak Shiromani" for his long and dedicated service to the community.

He has been honoured with the title of "Shriyans Abhinav" and "Samaj Shiromani" in recognition of his services to the community and awarded "Tamrapatra" at All-India Digamber Jain Parishad's Sammelan. In October 1982, Shri Jain was hououred with the title of "Samaj Ratna" by Western India Chamber of Commerce Bombay in recognition of his services in social, educational, industrial and medical fields. Ahimsa International honoured him at a glittering function at New Delhi on March 20, 1983 for his services in medical field. On his completion of 75 years of age in November 1983 the people of Bombay and other places greatly honoured him by holding "Amrit Mahotsava" for him. The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries has also honoured him for his services to the industry of the country.

Shri Jain is member of Instt. of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa, Vaishali, Bihar, Smt. Rama Rani Jain Research Instt. Moodbidri (Karnataka) Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Bombay; Managing Committee Member of S. D. J. M. I. Sravanabelgola; President, Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Samiti, Delhi, Treasurer Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay and Trustee of Bharitya Kala Kendra, New Delhi.

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Source : From 'Progressive Jains' Authored By Mr. Satish Kumar Jain

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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