Jain scholar Vilas Sangave, passes away

By Mohsin Mulla

A veteran scholar in Jain religion, sociologist and historian, Vilas Sangave, 92, died in the wee hours of Tuesday. He was bedridden for several days at his home in Rajrampuri area here.


He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law.

Born on June 2, 1920, in Solapur, Sangave completed his doctorate in sociology in 1950 from the University of Bombay. He served as a professor of sociology in Karnataka College and Rajaram College and was the head of the Shivaji University’s sociology department in 1980.

The veteran Jainologist had done monumental research on the religion and society, apart from research on Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. He compiled eight out of nine volumes of Shahu Gaurva Granth.

Read More about Vilas Sangave at Famous Jains
http://famousjains.blogspot.com/2011/03/dr-vilas-adinath-sangave.html

Salekh Chand Jain PIL in SC over MNS vandalism

NEW DELHI: A PIL petitioner on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators indulging in violence against another MLA for taking oath in Hindi.

Petitioner Salekh Chand Jain had earlier filed a PIL against the violence indulged in by MNS activists against north Indians and the apex court had issued notice on that PIL to the Maharashtra government.

Mentioning its fresh application in the pending petition, advocate Sugriv Dubey sought an early hearing on the petition and the present application saying "if the streak of violence started by MNS MLAs goes unpunished, then the nation will be divided into several parts on the basis of languages".

Jain's PIL had accused MNS activists of killing two doctor brothers -- Ajay and Vijay -- for refusing to close their clinic and charged the police and Maharashtra administration of doing nothing to arrest the accused.

"The representatives of MNS are committing offences and are going scot free," the petitioner said and requested the court to direct the Maharashtra government to bring to book those who were indulging in violence inside and outside the assembly in the name of language.

Rajendra Darda Becomes a Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra

Rajendra Darda Becomes a Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra

Rajendra Darda has been selected as a Cabinet Minister in the new cabinet of Maharashtra Government. He has got Industry and Self Employment Portfolio.

Mr. Darda is the only Jain in the new cabinet of 40 members. He was elected as a MLA from Aurangabad City. He belongs to Congress Party.

We congratulate him on his selection as a Cabinet Minister on behalf of Jain Friends and Jain Samachar.

-Mahavir Sanglikar

First V R Kothari Journalism Award Goes to Kumar Ketkar

First V R Kothari Journalism Award Goes to Kumar Ketkar

The first ever V R Kothari Journalism Award is announced. Noted Journalist and editor of the famous Marathi daily Loksatta will be the first recipient of this award.

V R Kothari was a prominent journalist and social reformer of 20th century. He started Prabhaat, a Marathi daily from Pune before independance of India. He started a crusade against all the wrong things happening in the name of religion, caste and traditions, through his newspaper and speeches.

V R Kothari wrote many books, including a book on French Revolution.

He suffered all the odds from the community, especially from the orthodox people.

Kumar Ketkar is also a journalist and social reformer of present day. He also has suffered from today’s orthodox people, but still he is fighting against all the wrong things taking place in the society.

To inform about this award, a delegation from Pune met Kumar Ketkar on 5th November and congratulated him. The delegation included Mr. Milind Phade (General Secretary of Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha), Mr. Arun Khore (Editor of Daily Prabhat), Dr. Ravsaheb Patil (Noted Marathi writer, speaker and journalist), Mahavir Sanglikar (Social reformer and writer) and Mr. Abhay Kothari.

Kumar Ketkar will receive this award on 22nd November of 2009, in a convention of Dakshin Bharat Jain Sabha at Mumbai.

www.jainsmachar.blogspot.com/

7 Jain MLAs in Maharashtra Assembly

In the elections of Maharashtra Legislative assembly, 7 MLAs from Jain community were elected. Here is the list of the elected MLAs.

1. Chainsukh Sancheti from Malkapur constituency (BJP)
2. Rajendra Darda from Aurangabad East (Congress)
3. Prashant Bumb from Gangapur (Independent)
4. Omprakash Pokarna from Nanded South (Congress)
5. Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malbar Hill (BJP)
6. Suresh Dada Jain from Jalgaon City (Shivsena)
7. Prakash Mehta from Ghatkopar (BJP)

There are 288 seats in Maharashtra assembly. So the percentage of Jain MLAs stands 2%+. This is much more than the percentage of Jains according to census in population of Maharashtra, which is 1.3%

Following Jain candidates failed to win the elections:

1. Prakash Awade from Ichalkaranji (Congress)
2. Rajesh Patni from Karanja (Shivsena)
3. Rajendra Pipada from Shirdi (Shivsena)
4. Rahul Pugliya from Ballarpur (Congress)
5. Rajkumar Bafna from Malbar Hill (Congress)
6. Bharat Parekh from Charkop (Congress)