Kolkata,18th September,2011
The Silver Jubilee function of Shree Jain Shwetamber Terapanthi Sabha, Kolkata was celebrated at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata on Sunday, the 18th September 2011 in pious presence of Sadhvi Kanakshri ji a learned disciple of Acharya Shri Mahashraman ji. Fellow Sadhvis - Sadhvi Veenakumari ji, Sadhvi Madhulata Ji, Sadhvi Madhulekha ji and Sadhvi Shantiprabha ji also graced the occasion. The function started at 9.30 A.M. with recital of Namaskar Mahamantra by Sadhvishri Kanakshri ji.
Shri Bhanwar Lal Singhi - the founder secretary of Kolkata Sabha and the present General Secretary of Terapanthi Mahasabha began the programme with his opening remarks about the circumstances how The Sabha Kolkata was constituted as per the directions from Acharya Tulsi. Members of Kolkata Mahila Mandal produced a chorus song with gratitude towards His Holiness Acharyashri Mahashramanji. Shri Bhanwar Lal Baid - convener of the Silver Jubilee Celebration Committee welcomed all the guests and thanked all his co-conveners for making the celebrations successful. Shri Karan Singh Nahata - President of Kolkata Sabha also welcomed the guests and the gathering of over 2500 devotees of Jain Terapanth Sect and narrated the journey of Kolkata Sabha ever since its formation with the blessings from His Holiness Acharya Shri Tulsi. Shri Rajendra Kumar Bachhawat, Chief Trustee of Mahasabha spoke on behalf of Jain Shwetamber Terapanthi Mahasabha which is the apex and oldest institution of Jain Terapanth Sect under whose guidance and directions over 450 affiliated Sabhas are working to spread the mission of the Terapanth Acharyas. In Kolkata also 13 Sabhas are working as affiliated Sabhas of Mahasabha.
Sadhvi Kanakshriji addressed the gathering present. In her blissful address Sadhvi Kanakshriji said - “The silver jublee on the occasion of 25th year is an important programme for Kolkata Sabha. Every organization must celebrate its journey of progress, review the past and plan for the future. Acharya Tulsi was a great visionary. His foresightedness enabled the emerging of number of Sabhas and organizations. Terapanthi Mahasabha is one of them. All the regional Sabhas are working under the guidance of Mahasabha to spread the message of Terapanth Acharyas and also to strengthen the society. She further said that true saints and nuns do not belong to any caste or creed or a particular religious sect. They are meant to preach and guide each and every person irrespective of caste and creed. Acharya Mahashramanji is coming to Bangbhumi carrying great mission. For achieving the said mission a team of working force is needed. All the regional sabhas of Greater Kolkata must be active for that. It is the dedication and the responsibility of the working force which can help character building for true development of the society. The great mission of Acharya Mahashramanji is purification of character and upliftment of moral values. Terapanth sect is a believer in non-violence and peace. The people of this society are laborious and with passion for service to humanity. They should not indulge in any activity which can defame the society, destruct moral values and hinder development of the society. They should not also have the ego to advertise their names. There have been great Shrawaks in Terapanth from Kolkata namely: Samaj Bhushan Chhogmal Chopra, Samaj Bhushan Srichand Rampuria, Bharti Bhushan Khemchand Sethia, Shashan Sevi Jabbarmal Bhandari, Nemchand Gadhaiya, Birdhichand Gouthi, Madanchand Gouthi and Dulji Dugar of Ladnun who worked selflessly for the Terapanth Samaj without any willingness for name and fame. Such people are of the prime category and true pillars for the noble cause. Shri Karan Singh Nahata, the president of Kolkata Sabha is lucky enough to celebrate silver jublee year during his tenure as president. He has put in great effort to organize the Terapanth Samaj. The Sabha must come forward to make itself capable enough to take responsibility of the bright future, it must progress with the sense of service to the society.”
Samani Prashant Pragyaji also addressed the gathering of lay followers saying that moving feet, devoted evaluation and farsighted eyes are required to reach to hights and expressed her mangal kamna for the Sabha.. Samani Gaurav Pragya ji was also present in the programme.
Sadhvi Madhulataji addressing the large gathering of lay followers apprised the devotee followers, office bearers and workers of the various Terapanth organizations of the rulings and guidance given by his holiness and asked everyone to strictly adhere to the same.
An important part of the programme was presentation of "Chaitanya Rashmi Kanakprabha" a book written by Sadhvishri Kanakshriji, on the life of Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha ji. A copy of the book was presented by Nari Ratna Smt. Tara Devi Surana to Sadhvishri Kanakshriji. The work has been published by Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun. Shri Surendra Choraria - President of Jain Vishva Bharati presented the book to Acharyashri Mahashramanji at Kelwa on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav-2nd Phase at Kelwa on 9th September, 2011. The work was highly praised by Acharya Mahashramanji and he himself gifted the book to Sahvipramukha Kanakprabhaji. It is a matter of great pleasure for Kolkata Sabha that the initial composing and compilation work was assisted by Kolkata Sabha. The work is indeed is a great literary example.
It is worth mentioning here that with continuous inspiration from Sadhvi Kanakshriji a group of 425 devotees from Kolkata travelled to Kelva under auspices of Shri Jain Shwetamber Terapanthi Sabha, Kolkata from 6th September 2011 and returned back to Kolkata on 13th September as ‘Amrit Purush Vardhapan Yatra’ and it’s convener was the Kolkata Sabha Vice-president Sri Amarchand Dugar. The devotees attended the Amrit Mahotsav function on 9th September, 2011. All the lay followers from Kolkata prayed Acharya Mahashramanji for Chaturmas at Kolkata. The prayer to Acharyashree got weightage due to presence of all the past presidents of Kolkata Terapanthi Sabha. Acharya Shri Mahashramnaji was kind enough to announce his chaturmas for the year 2017 at Kolkata in presence of hundreds of Lay followers, and officials from Kolkata representing Terapanthi Mahasabha, Jain Vishwa Bharti, other central organizations of Terapanth, Kolkata Terapanthi Sabha and all the other regional Sabhas of Kolkata.
Special Guest Shri Vinod Baid also spoke on the occasion and said that Acharya Shri Mahashramanji has been kind enough towards the people of West Bengal by declaring the chaturmas at Kolkata, we all must come forward to make it successful and memorable. A chorus song was produced by Sadhvi Veena Kumariji, Sadhvi Madhulataji, Sadhvi Madhulekhaji and Sadhvi Shantiprabhaji. Shri Prakash Chand Maloo - the convenor of Souvenir-cum-Member's directory also spoke on the occasion and presenteded a copy of the same to Sadhvi Kanakshriji for inauguration.The said work is a collection of pictures presenting the activities of the sabha in last 25 years, in addition to Holy messages and articles from Acharya mahashramanji and other saints and nuns and the past presidents of the sabha. Sri Surendra Kumar Dugar, past vice-president of Kolkata sabha read the message of Acharya Shri Mahashramanji. As president of South Kolkata Sabha he announced to undertake open heart surgery of 50 needy persons.
All the guests, conveners and co-conveners were honored by Kolkata Sabha by presentation of memento. It was also a moment of great pleasure for the Kolkata Sabha that all its past presidents, namely Shri Janwari Mal Bengani, Shri Bhojraj Baid, Shri Bhanwar Lal Baid, Shri Kanhaiya Lal Patawari, Shri Mahal Chand Bhansali and the present president Shri Karan Singh Nahata were present in the programme along with all the past secretaries of Kolkata Sabha, namely Shri Bhanwar Lal Singhi, Shri Banshi Lal Baid, Shri Gulab Chand Bothra, Shri Prakash Chand Surana, Shri Karan Singh Nahata and the present secretary Shri Narendra Kumar Manot to grace the occasion. All the past presidents and past secretaries were honored by Kolkata Sabha by presentation of Momento. Shri Kamal Dugar - co-convenor of the Silver Jubilee Celebration Committee expressed his views and requested the ministers of the Government of West Bengal to actively participate in the Programmes of Acharya Shri Mahashramanji during his Chaturmas in Kolkata in the year 2017for moral and spiritual development of the society.
Guest of Honor - Shri Purnendu Bose - Hon'ble Labour Minister, Govt. of West Bengal, Guest of Honor - Janab Bobby Hakim - Hon'ble Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development, Govt. of West Bengal, the Chief Guest - Shri Partha Chatterjee - Hon'ble Minister for Industry, Commerce & Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal also addressed the gathering saying that the teachings of Lord Mahavira which are being propagated by His Holiness Acharya Shri Mahashramanji are of great importance in the present scenario when the moral values are eroding day by day. They all were delighted to learn that Acharya Mahashramanji will come to Kolkata in the year 2017 for Chaturmas and said that the earth of Bengal will be delighted and we shall work together to uplift the moral and cultural image of Bengal and will create a heavenly atmosphere.
Shri Narendra Kumar Manot, the energetic secretary of Kolkata Sabha who has also joined the elite class of the Upasak's to serve as a preacher at various places during Paryushan festival presented the vote of thanks. He expressed his sense of gratitude on behalf of Kolkata Sabha towards His Holiness Acharya Mahashramanji, Mantri Muni Sumermal ji, Sadhvi Pramukha Kanakprabha ji, Sadhvi Kanakshriji and all fellow Sadhvis with her group. He also thanked the convenor of the programme, all the co-convenors, all the central institutions of Terapanth Sect. viz. Mahasabha, Jain Vishva Bharati, Jai Tulsi Foundation, Terapanth Professional Forum, all the sabhas of greater Kolkata, all the Mahila Mandals, Terapanth Yuvak Parishad-Kolkata, the management of science city auditorium, the event co-ordinator, the office bearers, executive committee members and members of Kolkata Sabha and last but not the least the present audience of Terapanth devotees.
The 2nd session of the programme began with the opening remarks from the comparer Shri Bhanwar Lal Singhi, the eminent and noted Bhajan Samrat Shri Anup Jalota with his troupe sang religious and sacred hymns written by our most revered Acharyas and their disciples. During this 90 minute long programme of Bhajan's, the devotees were enthusiastically involved themselves in singing the bhajans. At the end momento was presented to the eminent singers. Sri Rajendra Nahata - Joint Secretary of Kolkata Sabha presented vote of thanks for the 2nd session. The programme ended with recital of Mangal path by Sadhvi Shriji followed by the Sangh Gaan in Chorus.
The programme was attended by about 2500 devotees from all over Greater Kolkata. Buses were arranged by Kolkata Sabha from all the points for carrying the devotees. The volunteer service was provided by young energetic youth members of Terapanth Yuvak Parishad, Kolkata led by its young president Shri Basant Patawari. Shri Karan Singh Nahata - President of Kolkata Sabha, Shri Narendra Manot (Secretary), Shri Tulsi Dugar(Chief Trustee), Sri Rajendra Pugalia (Vice-president), Sri Amarchand Dugar (Vice-president),Sri Rajendra Nahata (Jt. Secretary)Sri Sushil Kumar Jain (Treasurer), Shri Bhanwar Lal Baid (Convener- Silver Jubilee), Shri Kamal Kumar Dugar (Co-convener, Silver Jubilee), Shri Prakash Maloo (Convener- Souvenir), Sri Pramod Lunawat (event–coordinator) and all executive committee members and various sub-committee members left no stone unturned to make the programme a grand success. The programme was attractively well conducted by Shri Bhanwarlal Singhi.