Bonding Through Jaina - Dr. Mahendra Pandya

Dr. Mahendra K. Pandya, came to the USA way back in 1966 to study, but soon made it his home. Today, as President, Jaina he's made it his life's mission to bond together all the Jains in North America and Canada, irrespective to their language, region or tradition.

The 65-year-old Dr. Pandya is a first-generation American. He left India way back in 1966 after he had completed his MD (medicine) from Gwalior University. He travelled to the USA for further studies, then stayed back to practice from  972 to 1997.

Soon after he settled there, his wife Asha joined him and his sons Sanjay and Rajiv, who are now both based in New York, grew up on foreign shores.

Flashbacking to his early days, Dr. Pandya says that he did not find it too difficult settling down in New York, "Settling down socially was also easy as I had two of my family friends living in New York who helped me and my family."

Today, Dr. Pandya has retired from active medical practice. His sons have not followed in his footsteps. They are busy with their family business of diamond jewellery, Ashi Diamonds. Dr. Pandya explains that while the overseas operations are looked after by his sons, his nephew handles the Indian side in Mumbai at his pera House office in the heart of the city.

Dr. Pandya's involvement with Jainism is not something new or taken up as a fad. "Obviously distance does make the heart grow founder," the Jaina President  ays. " But right from the beginning I have adhered to the precepts and principles of Jainism, whether in India or abroad."

Incidentally, Dr. Pandya was the founder member of the first Jaina unit in New Your and he was also involved with establishing the first Jain temple in the city there. "There was already a group of Jains interested in coming together to make an association. The leader of this group was Dr. N.K. Sethi who hailed from Indore and happened to be a family friend as well. Once established, the initial links soon grew and so did our contacts."

What is Jaina? Dr. Pandya patiently explains. "There is a sizeable population of Jains in the US, but scattered as they were, they hardly interacted in any significant way. So though there were several unitary bodies, there was no single unifying body. Jaina filled this vacuum. Established in 1981, Jaina is the umbrella that guides and combines all the Jain centres in North America and Canada. The idea of a national organization was first conceived by some of the Jain leaders in the US like Lalit Shah, Jagat Jain, Dr. Sulekh Jain, Dr. Salgia and Vinay Jain, to name a few," he states.

Jaina took firm root with the blessings of Acharya Sushil Kumarji and Gurudev Chitra Bhanuji. Jaina has evolved from its initially small beginnings to embrace 57 centres at present. Significantly, it represents Jaina irrespective of their language, region or traditions and has, hence, provided an effective forum to foster friendship and unity among all the Jains in North America and Canada.

Initially, as with any organization, financing was a problem, but now with each committee seeing to its funding and the funding of its projects, things move with a greater degree of smoothness. Over the years Dr. Pandya has seen Jaina grow. "It is the largest non - sectarian organization of Jains. We want to propagate our beliefs, particularly amongst people who do not adhere to age-old traditions. We believe in unity and not in uniformity. Rather our belief of anekantvada (multitude beliefs) tells us that we do not know the complete truth. We can learn from others as well."

"Jaina," continues Dr. Pandya, "is committed to social service and humanitarian  activities both in America and overseas. Through its World Community Services it has rushed aid to earthquake victims in Latur (Maharashtra), Uttar Kashi (Uttar Pradesh), North Ridge (California) and Kobe (Japan). In 1998, when a highly destructive cyclone hit Gujarat (India), Jaina adopted two villages in the state. Recently, Jaina also rushed aid for the victims of the Gujarat and Rajasthan drought. So, even though Jaina does not have its office in India, its representatives here monitor the activities and needs of the times."

Doctors are flown in from America and with contributions and donations needy people are provided with the requisite medical care. These camps and activities are carried our in collaboration with the local health centres.

Jaina has donated in a big way to educational institutions like Mahila Vidyalaya in  ahivirji, the Vidyasagar Sansthan in Bhopal and is involved in the Ahimsa Bhawan and Sant Niwas in Aligarh. To ensure the availability of socially relevant basic education, Jaina is committed to seeing that each of its centres has a pathshala. In association with its centres it is also creating an up-to-date curriculum that can be implemented in different schools.

As one generation follows the next, the link with its roots is likely to become even  ore tenuous. Fully aware of the need to keep its faith and principles alive, Jaina convention hosts a congregation of at least 10,000 to 12,000 Jains.

"It has become a unique social and religious meeting place for like-minded people," says Dr. Pandya. He already has his eyes set on the next convention scheduled in Chicago in 2001.

It was an extremely gratifying and a proud moment when the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, announced the formation of the National and international committee for the year long celebrations of of Bhagwan Mahavir  600 Janma Kalyanak and to actively spread the highly relevant message of peace and non-violence. Jaina has established a Mahavir Memorial Committee to  ctively participate in the international event.

Dr. Pandya admits that the Jains are more unified abroad, in countries like America and Canada, for instance, than in India where the religion has sprung from. "Since we live far away from our country, we have come to realise the dire importance of preserving ore culture, something that is taken for granted here."

An important means of preserving the tenets and philosophy is by inculcating the  oath and teaching them the importance of Jainism, showing them how relevant it is to their lifestyle even today. To this end is dedicated the Young Jains of America (YJA) and its fast - growing membership is evidence of the fact that Jaina is moving in the right direction. YJA seminars are a regular feature of the biennial conventions and an association of Young Jain Professionals is now an affiliate of Jaina.

What attracts the youngsters to Jaina? Dr. Pandya smiles. "Jaina's matrimonial data bank is extremely popular for marriage referrals. Many Jains have found their life partners through the Marriage Information Service."

Other potent tools that Jaina uses to propagate its views are its numerous  publications. The main Jaina library in Los Angeles has over 8,000 books. It has a branch in Canada. The Jaina website www.jaina.org - keeps the cyber-happy world abreast of activities and current events in the world of Jainism. Jaina also  rings out an annual calendar to exemplify its teachings.

The Jaina Digest, Dr. Pandya says proudly handing over a copy, is the quarterly magazine of the Jain Associations in North America. It gives information about events that have happened and forthcoming highlights of Jaina. It is mailed to over 7,500 Jain families in America and world wide - completely free of cost!

Dr. Pandya is a satisfied man today. He lives in a joint family, a rarity in America. "That's because the boys work together, lives and eats together," he  philosophizes. They are all vegetarians. "My whole family, including the  grandchildren, are strictly vegetarian. They do not eat cookies, cake or ice creams that contain eggs, in fact they buy some way or the other: "My wife Asha is firmly by my side in whatever I do. My elder son Sanjay and his wife Renu take care of the fund-raising that is necessary for Jaina activities; my younger son Rajeev and his wife Deepti take care of the publication of the annual calendar." Dr. Pandya himself links up with the different parts of Jaina, mainly by telephone and e-mail.

"I do visit the centres whenever the need arises," he says, "or if there is some celebration or function like the inauguration of new centre."

He is rarely found at home as he also shuttles between his overseas home and India, a place that inevitably and naturally draws him even after so many  years. "Nowadays I am more in India than in the US," Dr. Pandya smiles. "My friends in New York are continually asking me if I have shifted base."

Obviously the answer is 'No'. His family has put down roots abroad and his work as President Jaina gives him a deep sense of fulfillment. "It's gratifying to see how Jains have not forgotten their way of life, Jaina gives us an immense sense of belonging. We can reach out to one another and realise that yes, we have a common bond, a shared way of life. We are proud that our youngsters too have not turned their backs on our beliefs."

He continues, "The Jain presence cannot be ignored. "Our community is full of  people who make a difference socially in a variety of ways and professions and  any their breed grow!"

And on that highly positive note, Dr. Pandya ends the chitchat. Ready to fly back home, he assures us that he will return soon to India. After all, he has found the  magical formula that helps him straddle two continents... all with a smile!

The objectives of Jaina
To develop a better understanding of Jainism
To assist and promote charitable activities
To promote vegetarianism and non-violence
To assist in the establishment of Jain temples, schools and other Jain-oriented facilities
To keep all Jains together and guide them in their different activities

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Source : "Vardhaman" A Book On Jainism, Published By Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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