Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain

( U. S. A. )

Dr. Sulekh Jain : was born in a religious family in Delhi. After obtaining B.S and M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering in India, he went to England in 1965 where he got his Ph.D. In 1969, he moved to United States of America and has lived in several places including Berkley, California, Worcester, Massachusetts, Cincinnati, Ohio and Houston, Texas.

All along, Dr. Jain has been active in many religious and social activities within the Jain and non-Jain communities in the U. S. A and Canada. Dr. Jain is Founder / Co-Founder of several organizations and institutions in North America such as; Jain Center of Greater Boston (1973), Jain society of Houston (1981), Jain Digest Magazine (1985), Jaina Library (1988), Young Jains of America (1989), Jain Center of Central Ohio at Columbus (1991), Jain Academic Foundation of North America (1994), Mahavir World Vision Inc. (1994), Jain Spirit International Magazine (1999), World Council of Jain Academies (1999), JVB Preksha Meditation Center in Houston (1999) and International Summer School for Jain Academic Studies ( 2004).

During the last 40 years, Dr. Jain has served as President of Jain Society of Houston (1982-83), Jain Center of Cincinnati/Dayton (1987-89), Jain Academic Foundation of North America (1994-98) and JVB Preksha Meditation Center Houston, (2001-2002), Vice President of Mahavir World Vision Inc , Board member of Jain Society of Houston, World Council of Jain Academies, Jain Spirit International magazine and Ahimsa Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi Library in Houston and Program Director of the International Summer School for Jain Studies.

He has been intimately connected with the Federation of Jain Association in North America (Jaina) since its inception in 1981. From 1985-89, he served as its Secretary. In 1989 at the biennial convention of Jaina held in Toronto, Canada, he was elected its President, which he served for 4 years till 1993. During his tenure as Secretary and President, Jaina experienced a strong growth and name recognition throughout the Jain world (North America, India and many other countries). Following are just a few highlights of the new initiatives and programs that were started in Jaina during his leadership; Established and propagated Jain Digest. Created Jaina Matrimonial Information Service. Organized Scholar Visitation program. Established YJA. Initiated International Youth Participation. Created and formalized a separate YJA Convention. Established Jaina Library. Developed and preached the style and concept of a new non-Sectarian Jain Temple for North America. Created the concept of Jaina Charitable Trust. Started the Celebration of Ahimsa Day though out North America. Decentralized the workings of Jaina by establishing nearly 30 sub committees including Jaina World Community Service. This made Jaina a broad-based organization. Increased the membership of Jaina from 8 Jain Centers to nearly 50. Supported, produced and distributed 60-minute video on Jainism titled " AHIMSA". Formalized a system of regular Jaina Executive Committee meetings at various member Jain Centers through out the year including one every year at Siddhachalam. Jaina Youth Essay Competition was started during his times with Jaina. Jaina published English translations of 2 books (Jain Pratikraman and Aloyana) in addition to the re-publication of Jain Declaration on Nature. Dr. Jain established very strong links with many world Jain leaders and organizations for the growth of Jaina and its activities.

Dr. Jain has traveled extensively in India, U.K, Europe, Asia and Australia, has visited many Jain Centers in the World, met many Jain leaders, Scholars and Sadhus world over, participated in many seminars and functions and has delivered many lectures at various gatherings (Jain and Interfaith) in USA, Canada and India.

In 1990, along with other Jain world leaders, he led an U.S. Delegation to Buckingham Palace London for a meeting with H. R. H. Duke of Edinburgh regarding Jain Declaration on Nature. In 1993, he participated in the Parliament of Worlds Religions in Chicago and also presented a paper there. In November 1997, he presented a paper "Jainism; a Dynamic and Living Religion" and also represented Jainism at the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace Conference held in Washington, D.C. In July 1998, Dr. Jain organized a World Conference on Jainism and Ecology at Harvard University, which was attended by many top Jain Scholars from USA, Canada, India and U.K including Dr. L. M. Singhvi and late Dr. Nathmal Tatia. Prior to that, he had participated at 2 Conferences at Harvard University on Multi Culturalism and Pluralism and an International Seminar on Vedanta and Jainism held at Miami University where he made presentations also. In 1999, he participated in the International Seminar on Swami Umaswati and His Works held in New Delhi, India. In addition, he has also participated at several meeting on Animal Rights including the June 1996 March for Animals in Washington, D.C.

Dr Jain has authored several papers on Jainism and has provided help and guidance in the publications of at least 4 books on Jainism (Tattavartha Sutra by Dr. Nathmal Tatia, 3 books in French language; Lord Mahavira, Aspects of Jainism, The Jains today in the world) and a set of 8 pamphlets on various aspects of Jainism (published by Mahavir World vision, Inc.). In 1996 and 1997, He along with Dr. Surendra Singhvi taught a regular credit hour course in Jainism at University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Most recently, he has been involved with improving education, teaching and Research programs in Jainology at PV Research Institute in Varanasi. He is also very active in many cultural, civic and religious organizations in Houston such as the Interfaith Dialogue, Unity Church Peace Makers Group and Interfaith Ministries of Houston.

During his entire life, even though he was born in a particular Jain tradition (sect), Dr. Jain has believed, practiced, preached, propagated and supported whole heartily the concept and creation of a one unified, non sectarian, cohesive, dynamic, responsive, forward looking and visionary Jain Sangha in North America that is free from sectarianism and regionalism.

Professionally, Dr. Jain is a Mechanical Engineer with an M.Tech from IIT Kharagpur, a Ph.D. from Birmingham University (U.K) and an MBA from Clark University. He has taught Mechanical Engineering at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, University of California-Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T), Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Laval University, Quebec, Canada.

After working at Wyman Gordon Company, Combustion Engineering and General Electric Company in various Technical and Managerial capacities for nearly 28 years, he is now the President of his own Engineering Consulting Company (MMT Solutions) in Houston Texas where he now lives. He is author/co-author of more than 50 technical papers and books and has 10 International and US Patents.

Dr.Jain married to Ravi Rani Jain who is daughter of Late Shri Mohan Lal Jain, and is blessed with son Anudeep and daughter Vandana ( both are physicians). Anudeep is married to Arti and is blessed with daughters Priyanka and Divya.

His Address : 4502, Saint Michaels Court, Sugar Land, Texas. 77479, U. S. A. Phone : 2814947656, E-Mail : scjain@earthlink.net

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