Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

Page 168

GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
Life of VIRCHAND GANDHI Short illustrious but volcanic life of only 37yrs.
Primary education in Mahuva, matriculation from Alfred high school Bhavnagar in 1880. Married to Jiviben in 1879.
Along with Columbia Exposition, the third largest world fair, to be held in Chicago in, 1893 it was decided to hold first Parliament of World Religions where religious heads from all over the world were to assemble.
Birth date: 25th Aug 1864
Birth place: Mahuva, Gujarat (India)
B.A. with Honors in 1884 from Elphinstone college, University of Bombay, first, known Jain graduate.
Mother: Manbai
Father : Raghavji-a Jeweler,
religious minded, but reformer against irrational
or unwholesome
social evils.
Diligent, Brilliant & Industrious academic career. Signed, articleship with M/S Little & co for Solicitor's Examination but religious causes were dearer to his heart. Became honorary Secretary of Jain association of India (1884). Strived to prevent slaughter of cattle.
rego
PAVIGAR
P
For this His Holiness, Munishree Armaramjee, a well known scholar & Jain priest was invited. Munishri could not honor this invitation due to strict code of conduct for Jain ascetics. Who can shoulder the stunendous task to represent the subtle philosophy of Jainism with courage & correctness? Yes the only one "Virchand", was the unanimous voice of 5 million Jains. The responsibility only he could Shoulder.