The Institute of Jainoloy (IOJ) together with the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) celebrated its 21st Annual Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 15 October 2024, in the presence of esteemed guests and dignitaries including from Members of Parliament & House of Lords, Jain organisations, other faith communities, major institutions, academia and the Jain diaspora to reflect on the theme for the evening – Ahimsa and its relevance in modern society with respect to sustainability and social justice.
The evenings proceedings began with a serene and soulful recitation of the sacred Jain prayers, Navkar Mantra and Mangalik by revered Samnijis, setting a reflective tone for the proceedings.
Dr. Mehool H Sanghrajka, the Managing Trustee of the IOJ, warmly welcomed the attendees, and spoke of the global importance of Ahimsa, particularly in addressing contemporary sustainability and social justice issues.
Despite his hectic schedule, Lord Khan of Burnley, Minister of Faith made time to deliver a keynote address, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to working with all faith communities to foster peace and equality. He recalled his inspiring recent visit to the beautiful Jain temple at Potters Bar and interacting with the community to learn more about Jainism. He praised the Jain community for its dedication to non-violence and environmental sustainability, encouraging further interfaith dialogue.
All the attendees appreciated the presence of the Hon Mr Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for services, Small Business and Exports) and the outgoing Chair of the Jain APPG and Padma Shri the Hon Bob Blackman CBE, MP Vice -Chair of the Jain APPG. Both emphasised the importance of Ahimsa in today’s strife torn world and their commitment to the UK Jain community. Mr Thomas highlighted some of the achievements of Jain APPG since its formation eight years ago, citing the first ever debate in the House, discussing the contribution of Jains to the national economy and local communities, Jain representations at major national events, Jain Election Manifestos and progress to adding Jainism to the UK Census. He also stated that Ahimsa Day reminds him to be alert to the benefits of following Ahimsa as well to the dangers of ignoring it, when discussing current world issues.
As he relinquished his role as Chair of the Jain APPG, he was given a well-deserved standing ovation.
Ahimsa Award 2024
The IOJ Ahimsa Award is presented annually to a carefully chosen and vetted, deserving personality, Jain and Non-Jain alike, by the IOJ Board, from across the globe, who embodies and promotes the principle of Ahimsa in any facet of life.
The Ahimsa Award 2024 was presented to Mr Surendra Patawari in recognition of his lifelong enthusiasm and groundbreaking work in environmental sustainability and his commitment and contributions to Jain education.
Mr Jaysukh Mehta, IOJ Director, in his comprehensive citation stated, “this year’s recipient exemplifies the values of Ahimsa—non-violence and compassion not just in thought but in transformative global action, proving that the ancient tenets of Jainism hold crucial relevance for our contemporary world too”.
He introduced Mr Surendra Patawari, as the founder and chairman of Gemini Corporation, a global leader in the circular economy. Based in Belgium, Gemini is now a global enterprise, collecting over 2 million tonnes of recyclable materials across 75 countries. The corporation breathes new purpose into over 4 billion pounds of materials annually, including 1 billion PET bottles and 50 million tires. This remarkable effort aligns perfectly with Jain values, transforming seemingly worthless items into something that benefits the planet and its inhabitants. Patawari’s visionary journey began in 1989, well before the current urgency around sustainability and climate change.
Mr Patawari is a key figure in shaping international environmental policies and as a member of the World Economic Forum’s advisory board and Chair of the Plastics Taskforce under King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative is at the forefront of discussions about global sustainability and UN Global Plastics Treaty.
Mr Patawari supported the establishment of a Jain Chair at the University of Ghent, Belgium, which is a
testament to his belief that the philosophies of Jainism, particularly non-violence and sustainability, must be taught at the highest academic levels to remain accessible and continue flourishing.
Beyond his corporate and environmental efforts, Mr. Patawari has adopted 12 villages in India, supporting their medical needs, built two schools educating 400 children, and helped plant and maintain 100,000 trees in Rajasthan.
The citation ended with Mr. Patawari impactful message: “Waste is not waste until it is wasted.” The materials we discard today are resources for tomorrow. Let his example inspire us to view both our environment and our communities through the lens of care, renewal, and compassion.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr Patawari was unable to attend the event. His son, Kunaal Patawari, accompanied by his wife, Aashi Patawari, accepted the award on his behalf with great humility. The award was presented by Hon Mr Gareth Thomas MP and Padma Shri the Hon Bob Blackman CBE, MP.
Click here for Ahimsa Award 2024 IOJ Citation for Mr Surendra Patawari
In his address, Kunaal Patawari stated that his father is immensely grateful to the Jain community for conferring this award, which is incredibly special for him as receiving an honour from such a respected institution as the IOJ, carries immense significance and conveyed his father’s heartfelt thanks.
He outlined his father’s fascinating journey from a small village in the desert area of northwest India, where nothing was ever wasted due to limited resources. This culture of scarcity planted the seed of recycling business in his father’s mind. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, during his travels in Europe, he noticed the excessive packaging on many goods. Kunaal said that his father began to wonder who will manage this waste as consumption grows and thus began his mission to turn waste into a business opportunity. He citied the importance of the encouragement and invaluable guidance his father received from Acharya Mahapragya, who blessed him with two essential conditions – redefining integrity as ‘doing the right thing when no one is watching’ and trust which takes years to build but can be destroyed in an instant. These principles became the foundation of his father’s business. He said that his father build a business rooted in ‘respect, open mindedness and responsibility values which are indispensable in the global waste management industry today.’
Kunaal voiced his father’s call for the urgent need for action, as the world generates around 1million tonnes of plastic waste every day of which only less than 10% is recycled. This number is expected to rise to 333million in the next 25 years – if we fail to act now, future generations will never forgive us for neglecting the environment.
Kunaal ended his address by stating that his father dedicates this award to Acharya Mahashraman, whose wisdom continues to guide him. On behalf of his father, he thanked the IOJ for this ‘incredible honour’ and stated that his father ‘hopes to live up to the expectations and principles set before him, continuing to serve society and the environment.’
Interesting Jains
Jayni Gudka gave an enthralling and inspiring talk on her work with the homeless, giving a powerful example of Jainism in action.
She stated that “homelessness is on the rise in the UK with just under 2,000 people rough sleeping in London in the recent months, which is an increase of 33% since last year. Global figures indicate that on any given night, the number of people experiencing homelessness worldwide exceeds 150 million.”
She introduced her company – Unseen Tours, which is the world’s first social enterprise that offers a sustainable approach to tackling homelessness by empowering homeless individuals to work as tour guides, providing them with a sustainable income whilst raising awareness of homelessness in London.
To date, they have trained 27 people to curate their own tours of London, with more than 35000 people joining the guides, ‘learning more about homelessness in an enjoyable, yet informative way,’
Jayni stated that they are embarking on their first international project -in Brazil – and have big ambitions to expand in other countries.
Please read Jayni full transcript of her very interesting and inspiring talk Here.
Other Speakers
Professor Jaideep Prabhu from Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge gave an insightful presentation on frugal innovation, using Gandhian principles to address today’s environmental challenges. He highlighted the potential for scalable, sustainable solutions that benefit society as a whole.
Respected Samaniji Pratibha Pragya made the connection between this year’s Ahimsa Award winner – Surendrabhai’s work and Jainism, accentuating the concept of Ahimsa in Sustainability – “Waste to Best”.
Dr Sushma Jansari – Tabor Foundation Curator: South Asia Collections at the British Museum talked briefly about her exhibition Ancient India: Living Traditions due to open in Spring 2025. The exhibition will look at the origins of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist art and the global spread of these religions. The exhibition will bring greater visibility to the history and contributions of Jainism to the world.
Dr Marie-Hélène Gorisse, the Dharmanath Assistant Professor in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham, presented a first-year impact report on the Jain Studies program at the University. The program has made significant strides in fostering greater understanding and academic study of Jain philosophy, including:
- Integrating Jain teachings across various levels of study, from undergraduate to PhD courses, with many of the students encountering Jainism for the first time. Courses such as “Introduction to Philosophy” and “Global Bioethics” emphasise the importance of non-violence and ethical living, resonating with today’s societal issues.
- The University’s resources have been enhanced by the donation of rare Jain texts, making it a hub for Jain studies research.
- Undertaken lectures, workshops, presentation at King’s College and collaboration with global institutions such as Arihant Academy has had a significant public impact.
Samir Juthani discussed the upcoming IOJ publication providing analysis of the 2021 UK Census, focusing on the Jain community’s demographics and contributions. His upcoming publication will offer detailed insights, which will help advocate for better representation and resources for the community in the UK.
The evening concluded with an introduction to the celebration of Mahavir’s 2,550th Nirvana anniversary, which will be commemorated at Trafalgar Square on Sunday, 27th October 2024, as part of Diwali on the Square. Sangeeta Bavisha and Kajal Sheth from the organising team, spoke on the significance of this upcoming public celebration and its role in promoting Jainism’s peaceful message. The event will feature two Jain performances on stage and OneJain stall. All present, were requested to attend the event.
The Ahimsa Day 2024 event ended with a vote of thanks by Ajay Punater, IOJ director, who expressed heartfelt thanks to all attendees and participants for their continued support of Ahimsa Day and the Jain community’s work in promoting non-violence.
Photographs By: https://www.sheenasabharwal.com/
Posted By Kishor B Shah on 22 October 2024
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