Highlights of Gujarat“Jain Samaj 2020-Sampark Yatra”

The Sampark Yatra in Gujarat was a grand success. The enthusiasm of the Jain community from Gujarat was tremendous. They gathered in large numbers at every venue giving him a very warm and rousing welcome, be it a small town like Valsad or the bustling capital, Ahmedabad. Shri Shantilalji moved from one place to another tirelessly conducting two meetings per day covering 9 towns in 4 days, crisscrossing the state in a helicopter to optimize on time.

Valsad :- The Jain Samaj 2020 Sampark Yatra began from the town of Valsad on April 02, 2008 and this town has the privilege of being the first milestone of the Yatra. This is also the first time that the Jain community came together in Valsad as one, irrespective of their sampradaya (sect).
The meeting venue was full to capacity with 800 members of the community filling up the Madhu Smriti Hall. More than 150 of them had come from peripheral areas of Valsad district. The meeting began at 10 am, with a welcome song by a group of ladies from the community. When Shri Shantilalji took to the mike, the audience sat in rapt attention, listening to every word. One very senior and well respected member of the Jain community in Valsad came forward after the function and said that he is so moved by the heartfelt speech that for the first time in his life he has sat in a meeting till the end! He offered to surrender the rest of his life to the mission of Shri Shantilalji. Many more came forward in support of the programmes, like Dr. Vimalaben Lalbhai , Chairperson of the Atul Group, expressed her appreciation of the BJS mission . Shri Daulatbhai Desai (a very senior MLA from Valsad who has been elected for the 5th term ) commented that he had not heard this kind of speech in his 78 years.. The interest of the audience in the programmes was evident by the response and the voluntary booking of the CD without waiting for the announcement of its availability. Mr Mukeshbhai Zaveri, the master of ceremonies for the event did commendable work.in making the event a success. Our co-ordinators Shri Babubhai Mehta and Shri Chimanbhai Shah left no stone unturned to make this meeting a big success.
It is very heartening to know that this meeting has had a very positive effect on the Jain community in Valsad. The BJS Head office has been informed that for the first time in this town, Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated jointly by all sects at Valsad on April 18, 2008. NEXT>>>