The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Bhagwan Mahaveer's teachings `still relevant'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Bhagwan Mahaveer's teachings `still relevant'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, FEB. 14. Bhagwan Mahaveer's four-fold path of self-realisation — faith in truth, knowledge of reality, spiritual discipline and washing off the effect of accumulated karmas through the right austerities — are relevant even today, the Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, said today.

Presenting the ninth Mahaveer Awards for excellence in human endeavour given by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation to Siddharaj Dhadda of Jaipur (for non-violence and vegetarianism), the Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan of Almora and Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement of Mysore, the Governor said Jainism had contributed greatly to the cultural heritage of South India with its ideas on ahimsa and right living. The Jains in Tamil Nadu had contributed greatly to education, medicine, trade and industry.

The citation for Mr. Siddharaj Dhadda said the former Industries Minister of Rajasthan found it impossible to adhere to his principles in a political situation and opted out of politics and established a Sarvodaya Ashram in Khemal in Rajasthan.

The Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan has brought about a revolution in the mindset of villagers, especially men through its works in tandem with various women's groups.

Healthcare

The Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement provided cost-effective healthcare through the Janakalyan Tribal Hospital in Bramhagiri Village and the `Viveka' — Tribal Centre for Learning.

`Well accepted'

Ram Nivas Mirdha, a former Union Minister, chairman of the foundation, said that while controversies surrounded other awards, the selections for the Mahaveer Awards were very well accepted.

The jury comprised retired Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah, Mr. Mirdha, Dipchand Gardi, philanthropist, Acharya Chandana Maharaj, social reformer, L.M. Singhvi, Member of Parliament, D.R. Mehta, a former chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Sudarshan Agarwal, the Governor of Uttaranchal, B.M. Hegde, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mangalore Kendra and agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan.

N. Sugalchand Jain, Managing Trustee of the foundation, said that there were 212 nominations for the awards.

Though the foundation instituted an award of Rs.1 Lakh and had called for nominations in both Hindi and English, the jury decided on Rs. 51,000 since the materials fell short of the standards.

Dr. Premsuman Jain was given the award for his Hindi book titled, `Jain Dharamki Sanskritik Veerasat.'

Among those who addressed were S. Prasanchand Jain, trustee of the foundation, Mr. Singhvi and Acharya Chandana Maharaj who offered his benediction.

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