Indian Postal Department has issued a multicolored stamp, first day cover and a brochure on famous Jain orator and writer Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi on 8th Nov. 2009.
This Rs 5/- stamp depicts his portrait and photo of first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Brochure of this stamp also bears Namokar Mantra.
Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi was born on 25 August 1864 at Mahua in Gujarat and died at the young age of 37 on 7 August 1901. His short life was dedicated to the cause of Jainism and service to mankind. Besides mastering as many as fourteen languages, his religious knowledge was not restricted to Jainism alone. He was a student also of Buddhism, Vedanta Philosophy, Christianity and Western Philosophy. He was appointed the honorary Secretary of the Jain Association of India at the very young age of 21. He was instrumental in getting the slaughter house at the sacred Hills of Sammetshikarji closed down and in getting the poll tax that was levied on Jain pilgrims at Shatrunjaya Tirth by the Thakore Saheb of Palitana abolished.
He was a true patriot. When India was facing a devastating famine in 1897 he was responsible for sending Rs. 40,000/- towards famine relief and a shipload of grains to India from U.S.A. for famine relief. He represented the Jain religion in the first ever held parliament of World Religions at Chicago in 1893. He spoke on various Indian Philosophical systems. He defended Indian culture setting right several areas of misinformation. He delivered about 535 speeches on Jainism, other religions and cultural and social life in India. He founded several institutions and societies in the west. He wrote books on Jain philosophy, yoga philosophy, the concept of Karma and the six systems of Indian philosophy. He also translated a French book “An Unknown Life of Jesus Christ”. Courtesy:- Sudhir Jain, Universal Cables Ltd., Satna (M.P.) E-Mail : mrsudhirjain@yahoo.com /Ahimsa Times(November 2009)