Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Celebrates Annual Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons
Jain community comes together in parliament for first in-person event for three years
Westminster, UK 16th November 2022. The Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and the Institute of Jainology (IOJ) today celebrated Ahimsa Day in the House of Commons. ‘Ahimsa’ is the principal Jain tenant of non-violence/compassion and is strictly practiced by both Jains and Jain mendicants.
The event marked the return of the event to Parliament after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In that time, the event had been held virtually on Zoom.
The evening started with a recitation of the sacred Navkar Mantra, a Jain prayer, by the two Samani jis – Jain nuns who reside in London. This was followed by a welcome from Dr Mehool H. Sanghrajka, Managing Trustee of the IOJ. He reflected on the passing of HM The Queen, the appointment of the first British PM of Indian origin and Kyle Kothari, the first Jain to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the European Championships.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Minister of Faith at the Department of Communities gave her welcome to the audience and remembered the Jain debate in the House of Commons in 2019. The annual Ahimsa Award, given each year to somebody who personifies compassion, was awarded by Baroness Scott in 2022 to Padma Shri Dr. Kumarpal Desai, for his work in Jain and Gujarati literature, his educational work in teaching at numerous universities and his publication of encyclopaedias in both subjects.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Desai thanked the organisers for the award. Nemubhai Chandaria OBE, IOJ Chair- said, “Dr Kumarpal Desai is a worthy and deserving winner whose life has been dedicated to Jain and Gujarati teaching and literature. His knowledge has benefited many, including Jain monks and nuns. We wish him good health and much success in the coming years.”
Hon. Gareth Thomas MP, Chair of the Jain APPG gave his welcome and spoke passionately about UK-India trade and how the learning of Gujarati at school was essential to building relationships.
Emily Stidston, Community Outreach & Engagement Manager at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) gave an update on the Census and confirmed that data on religion and ethnicity will start to become available in a few weeks. The IOJ confirmed that it would work with the ONS to release a publication in 2023 on ‘Jains in the UK’, featuring analysis of the Census data.
Jain APPG Deputy Chair, Padma Shri Bob Blackman MP, added his welcome reflected on Jain needs and how data from the Census would ensure that dietary, chaplaincy, educational and community needs would be better addressed once the data was available.
Finally, the University of Birmingham announced the establishment of the Dharmanath Swami Chair in Jain Studies thanks to the generous support of US Jain donors, notably represented by the Vardhamana Charitable Foundation and the Shah Foundation, as well as UK donors, notably represented by the Institute of Jainology. The celebrations started with a series of addresses on the University’s ambition and vision by Prof. Charlotte Hempel, Head of the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion. Prof. Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of the Philosophy of Religion talked about the study of philosophy and religion at Birmingham. Finally, Dr. Marie-Hélène Gorisse, a Post Doctoral Researcher on Jainism at the University outlined the courses that will be available.
The programme in Jain Studies will be launched at the university at the start of next academic year with the creation of an Assistant Professorship in Jain Studies, an Assistant Professorship in the Ethics of Non-Violence, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Jain Studies.
The event ended with a vote of thanks by Jaysukh Mehta, Trustee of the IOJ.