Dr. Sampurnanand
Former Chief Minister of U.P.
Acharya Shri Tulsi, the sponsor of the Anuvrat Movement is far away from the sphere of politics. He is not connected with any particular group or party. He does not propagate any '-ism' and yet despite his efforts to keep himself at a distance from the modern ways of winning fame, he is one of those personalities who have in one way or other influenced the lives of millions. He is the religious head of a particular sect of Jains: hence he is called an 'acharya’. He must be teaching the basic tenets of Jainism to his followers and the rules of the sect to his sadhus yet no one is so far reported to have heard from him or his followers anything which lacerates other people's feelings.
One of the special features of Indian culture has been that the people here are allowed to follow any religion and preach its doctrines. Acharya Tulsi has once stayed at my residence and I have had the privilege of listening to him. He rigidly follows the discipline prescribed by his own religion. No matter how strange and out-of-date it sounds to the followers of other religions due to their ignorance there is hardly anything in his talks or conduct which may hurt their feelings. India has always held saints and ascetics in high esteem. Despite differences in the methods of worship and philosophical beliefs, we always bow our heads before character and asceticism. It is my belief that whenever or wherever a great man is born, whatever be the name by which he is called, a great soul is always worthy of universal respect. That is why we all revere Acharya Shree Tulsi and have a desire to embrace that part of his preachings which constitutes the very essence of religion and is beneficial to all.
