On 12th July 2007 in Kolkata, at the occasion of H.H. Acharya Mahaprajnaji’s 88th birthday, an Ahimsa Rally was organised under the theme “First laboratory of Ahimsa is family. Healthy family makes healthy nation.” The rally started at 08:15. Persons from different areas of Kolkata reached timely by buses and private vehicles. White clad schoolboys carrying Jain flags and placards giving the message of Ahimsa were followed by schoolgirls in blue skirts and light blue blouses.
Shri Vinod Baid and Shri Surendra Dugar were escorting Sadhvishree Nirvanshreeji with her group of 4 Sadhvis.
The ladies of Mahila Mandal in their yellow-orange Saris and other ladies were followed by the gents.
Young men, and then elderly and senior persons were marching in the gents’ group.
Nearly 500 people were giving the message of non-violence to the inhabitants of Kolkata in a disciplined rally at the occasion of the birthday of a great personality. At 09:00, the rally reached Birla Sabhagar, where a function soon thereafter started.
Sadhvishree Nirvanshreeji started with chanting Namokar Mantra, and Mahila Mandal then opened the function with singing Magalacharan. Shri Ranjeet Kothari, president of south Kolkata Sabha welcomed all, and Shri Surendra Dugar in his introduction outlined H.H. Acharya Mahaprajnaji’s great achievements, his contribution to literature promoting world peace, and the milestones he had crossed.
Shri Prakash Chindalia editor of Mahanagar newspaper said that the value of H.H. ‘s contributions to make the world a more peaceful place would be understood by humanity for centuries, as H.H. combines spirituality and science. Shri Sudip Bandopdhaya, M.L.A. expressed his desire to attend the function of H.H.’s 100th birthday celebration. He added that in spite of the political importance of this day, when west Bengal assembly will decide on the budget of police, he thought it more important to start his working day by participating in the function. M.D. Salim Parliamentrian was impressed by the way H.H. searches the problem’s root cause and then gives the solution. When H.H. entered Gujarat with Ahimsa Yatra, he brought peace some years ago. Peace cannot be achieved by slogans, for that we need personalities like H.H. who practices what he preaches; his tolerance is human culture.
Sadhvi Dr. Yogkshem Prabhaji compered the function, attracting the audience’s attention with her noble style. Sadhvi Lavinya Prabhaji expressed her feelings through poem. Maha Sabha president Shri Rajkaran Sirohia greeted the gathering and expressed the well wishes to H.H on behalf of Mahasabha. Sadhvis Kundan Yashaji and Mudit Prabhaji presented a dialogue showing on one side the problems of the world and their solution in H.H.’s literature. Problems like lack of faith and time management may be solved in following a lifestyle H.H suggests in his preachings and writings. Shri Ratan Dugar, president of Terapanth youth organisation, greeted H.H on behalf of all youths.
Sadhvi Nirvanshreeji in her speech recalled a statement of honorable Dr. Abdul Kalam, president of India where he describes H.H. as a person not only talking on non-violence, but also suggesting everyone to start practising non-violence in his family life. Sadhvishree further administered the gathering to take a vow together: I will practise peaceful co-existence in my family life.
She then reported that H.H believes Ahimsa training is supporting an non-violent lifestyle. To change one’s life, H.H. suggests contemplation. Sadhvishree continued that we see in the present situation the upcoming of problems resulting in violence, as unemployment, terror, and environmental damage. H.H. has provided practical solutions for the individual, in form of Kayotsarg and Contemplations of Tolerance and Fearlessness. To change the present atmosphere of fear, she quoted what H.H. suggests us to change:
- Aura (bhav parivartan)
- Attitude (dristi parivartan)
- Lifestyle (jeevan shaily)
Sadhvishree finished her speech by saying, “When the individual starts to change these three, the world as a whole will start to change (vyasatha parivaratan).”
Shri Vinod Baid, vice president of Kolkata south Sabha, gave thanks.
In the morning, some Kolkata newspapers had published articles on life and personality of H.H. HereNow4U Kolkata based correspondent Sushil Bafana put his feelings this way, “I conclude with the HereNow4U family’s and my best wishes for the great seer, philosopher and wise man. We wish to always get guidance from H.H.”
At the end of the function, Sadhvishrees recited Mangal Path.