R.K. Bengani
An assembly of people is known as ‘sabha’ and a grand assembly is known as ‘mahasabha’. A sabha becomes very meaningful when the primary purpose of that sabha is to help organize and/or promote religious matters. Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha is apex body of various terapanthi organizations. Appx 460 sabhas established and working from all over India, 2 sabhas working from foreign soil (one in Nepal and one in Dubai) and appx 3300 individual persons are members of this mahasabha. Various other terapanthi organizations are involved with and/or supported by mahasabha in one form or another. Dear Readers, these huge numbers surely do justify the adjective maha (grand). But that is only part justification. It is indeed involved in grand projects since more than 90 years and has great achievements to it’s credit. I think the combination - huge numbers, long history and great service to the Jain community in general and terapanthis in particular make this wonderful organization a mahasabha in true sense. 93rd Annual General Meeting of this ISO 9001:2000 certified organization was held in Gangasahar on Wednesday the 24th January. Here are the highlights:
- The meeting started with recitation of Namaskaar Mahamantra by Shri Tarunji Sethia, mahamantri of mahasabha.
- A WELCOME address was delivered by Shri R K Sirohia, President of mahasabha.
- Minutes of 92nd Annual General Meeting held on 3rd Feb 2006 at Dhuri were unanimously passed and approved.
- Annual Report was delivered by Shri Tarunji Sethia wherein he said that 460 sabhas and 3311 individuals were members of mahasabha. “Jain Bharati”, a very important periodical publication of mahasabha has reached a subscriber number of 4600. “Abhuday” magazine was main direct regular link between mahasabha and other sabhas. 89 Upashakas (lay jain scholars) were sent to 45 distant places (where monks/nuns and/or samanis were not available) for celebrating paryushan festival. Hundreds of Gyansahalas were operating under auspices of mahasabha. In a Sambodhan Alankaran Samaroh (investiture ceremony) held on 23rd January 2007, mahasabha felicitated 208 persons whose services / contribution were appreciated by Acharyashri during previous year. “Bhiskhu Granthaagar” (library) had a collection of 9355 books. Mahasabha had opened a regional office in Bangalore. It had various schemes for encouraging / awarding best performing students, best performing gyanshalas and best performing sabhas. It had a section, which looked in specific problems faced by any of terapanthi organ. Mahasabha was involved in publication and sale of religious literature. It was also running a homeopathy dispensary and a computer-training centre. Mahasabha took a mammoth task of terapanthi head counts and we learned that it reached 55000 families (appx 300000 individuals). Mahasabha was also incharge of central secretariat for acharyapravar. Shri Tarunji then talked about Mahasabha Bhawan in Kolkata and Abhyuday Bhawan in Ladnun. He then briefly talked about Mahasabha’s committee meetings held in Bhiwani, Delhi, Tamkor and Kolkata. Shri Tarunji expressed gratefulness to present and past presidents of mahasabha, chief trustee and committee members for their support and co-operation. Shri Tarunji concluded his annual report by paying obeisance to Acharyashri, Yuvacharyashri and Sadhvi Pramukhashri, monks, nuns and samanijis for their spiritual guidance and leadership. The annual report was unanimously passed by the meeting.
- The statements of accounts were presented by Shri Prakashji Baid, Treasurer of Mahasabha and were unanimously passed by the meeting.
- M/S S M Daga & Co were reappointed auditors of Mahasabha for ensuing year.
After above business, the meeting turned to it’s last but very important phase of taking/discussing suggestions from the office bearers/floor.
- Shri Lalchandji Singhi set the ball rolling by his thought provoking address and asked Jains to adopt to fast changing economic realities and abandon pre-set notions, if any. He said wonderful results can be achieved by utilizing infrastructure and countrywide network of sabhas, yuvak parishad (youth wing) and mahila mandal (ladies wing). Shri Lalchandji pointed out some areas where involvement of more than one terapanthi organization resulted in overlapping of work/activities. He suggested that efforts should be made to avoid overlapping of work so that available resources can be used for other important needs.
- Shri Surendraji Borad asked questions about management committee’s election in Sujangarh Sabha, usage of Abhuyday building in Ladnun and re-election of Shri Tarunji Sethia as mahamantri of Mahasabha. Shri R K Sirohia, president of Mahasabha and Shri Surendraji Chordia, immediate past president of Mahasabha answered the questions to the satisfaction of meeting.
- There was a suggestion from floor that Abhyuday magazine be sent to all life members of Mahasabha. Someone asked a question about land acquired by Mahasabha in Ladnun. Shri Mangilalji Sethia and Shri Anandji Chopra made some suggestions.
- Shri Kanhaiyalalji Chhajer strongly suggested that Mahasabha should seriously consider to transfer some of it’s routine activities (such as gyanshala / upashak) to other sister organizations so that it could focus on more important matters. Shri Kanhiayalalji also made a plea for serious introspection on issues raised by Shri Lalchandji Singhi.
- After some suggestions from Mrs Manju Nahata, editor of Abhyuday magazine and Shri Thanmalji Baid, there were questions and discussions about some on going court cases and general legal matters and issues related to taxation.
- Dr Mumukshu Shanta Jain suggested that tenure of Samani Mangalprajnaji as Vice Chancellor of Jain Vishwa Bharati Institute offered an excellent opportunity to serious students to become jain scholars and terapanth spokespersons.
- There were suggestions and questions from Shri Padamnji, Shri Nirmalji Bhansali and many others on various issues including chaturmaas stay arrangement for monks and nuns, spreading of Preksha Meditation, healthy and balanced life style, media liaisons and previously concluded EGM.
- Shri Todar Malji Lalani, President of 143rd Maryada Mahotsav Management Committee said a note of thanks to Mahasabha for accepting the invitation of holding this 93rd Annual General Meeting in Gangasahar on occasion of Maryada Mahotsav.
- Shri Rajkaranji Sirohia, President of Mahasabha appreciated the arrangements made by hosts of Gangasahar for this annual general meeting and presented mementos to Shri Todar Malji Lalalni, President of 143rd Maryada Mahotsav Management Committee and Shri Lunkaranji Chhajer, Mahamantri of 143rd Maryada Mahotsav Management Committee
The meeting concluded with a note of thanks to the President and Members of Management Committee of Mahasabha.
Following a note of thanks to Shri Todar Malji Lalani for his dinner invitation to all those who attended the meeting, the members left meeting hall and entered dinner hall (for sumptuous and mouth watering rajasthani meals).
Dear Readers, it was a very learning experience. It was an evening of valuable suggestions, healthy debate and a number of questions and clarification.