The Institute of Jainology (IOJ) and the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group celebrated the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir at the House of Commons. Known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, this day celebrates the birth of the 24th Jain Tirthankara (enlightened teacher). This year's event was particularly significant, marking the 2,550th anniversary of Lord Mahavir attaining Nirvana.
The annual celebration at the Palace of Westminster gathered Jain community leaders as well as a diverse array of dignitaries from Parliament, various faith communities, and the academic world. The event commenced with Jain prayers led by Paarul Shah. Dr Mehool H Sanghrajka MBE, the Managing Trustee of the IOJ, warmly welcomed the attendees, emphasising the milestone anniversary and its importance to the Jain community.
The Deputy Chair of the Jain APPG Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East, presented the annual OneJAIN awards for significant contributions to the Jain community. This year's awardees included Sonal Mehta, recognised with the Excellence in the Community Award for her dedicated community service in Manchester, and Suraj Bafna, who received the Young Persons Award for his impactful work on health initiatives within the Jain community. Chandrakant Shah received a high commendation for his extensive community involvement. A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Nemu Chandaria OBE for his pivotal role in raising the profile of Jainism in the UK and his three decades of passionate service, earning him a standing ovation.
A special message from Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Minister of Faith, was read, reflecting the legacy of Lord Mahavir and her appreciation of the Institute of Jainology’s work in supporting Jain communities. The evening also included an announcement by Samir Juthani, who is currently analysing the 2021 UK Census data to better advocate for the Jain community's needs in regions with significant Jain populations. Sonali Shah, a celebrity known for her role in the TV series "Pilgrimage" and as a presenter on "Escape to the Country," spoke about her spiritual journey within Jainism, highlighting how her understanding and acceptance of Jain values have deepened over time.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement and symbolic restitution of the Jain manuscripts held by the Wellcome Collection, represented by Dr Adrian Plau, to the IOJ. Wellcome has confirmed their intention to resituate their entire 2,000 plus Jain manuscripts to the IOJ. This gesture was described as an effort to "right a historical wrong", with Katherine Knowles discussing the care and preservation needs of these manuscripts. Dr Adrian Plau & Katherine then went on to present a symbolic manuscript to Nemu Chandaria & Jaysukh Mehta both IoJ Directors. The IOJ announced a long-term loan of these manuscripts to the University of Birmingham, thereby enhancing its role as a premier Jain research institution outside of India.
University representatives, led by Professor Charlotte Hempel, provided insights into their ongoing research and innovative educational programs designed to engage the community with the Jain manuscripts. They assured the audience of their commitment to preserving and promoting these valuable cultural artefacts.
The evening concluded with remarks from the Mayor of Harrow, Ramji Chauhan, who spoke passionately about respect, unity, and diversity as foundational to fostering peace and harmony. Lastly, Niraj Sutaria of the Mahavir Foundation announced an upcoming OneJAIN large-scale celebration of the 2,550th anniversary of Mahavir's Nirvana, expected to attract around 2,000 participants, demonstrating the vibrant legacy of Lord Mahavir and the unity of the Jain community.
