JAI JINENDRA! WELCOME! 2009 Jain Diaspora Conference July 2 nd, 1-3:30 1 PM
Jain Diaspora at a Glance By Manish Mehta, Ph.D. (Organizing Chairman/JAINA Vice-President President-MidWest Region) Jain Society of Greater Detroit 29278 W. 12 Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI www.jain-temple.org manishm@comcast.net,, Tel: (734) 604-7989
Conference Objectives 1. Bring together Jain leaders from around the world, and thereby drive greater unity and cohesiveness in the global Jain community; 2. Leverage our common identity, views and lifestyles by reaching out across borders and continents via the interchange of information about each international center's composition, activities & challenges. 3. Identify ways for Jain Diaspora communities to work together.
Our Inspirer & Visionary Late Shri L.M. Singhvi
Today s s Program - 1 Opening & Keynote Addresses 11:00am - 12:00 noon Delegates Arrival, Convention Registration & Networking Lunch 12:00pm Opening Prayer, Introductions, Acknowledgements (Manish Mehta, Organizing Chairman) 12:15 pm Welcome Address (Dilipbhai( Shah, President of JAINA) 12:25 pm Keynote Address #1 (Mahendrabhai( Mehta, Chairman, Ratnanidhi Charitable Trust/JAINA Representative Mumbai) 12:40 pm Keynote Address #2 Impact of Jain Studies on Jain Diaspora with Historical Context (Cromwell Crawford, Emeritus Professor, University of Hawaii) 12:55 pm Keynote #3 Diaspora Vision & Opportunities (Dr. Sulekh C. Jain, Past JAINA President & Convener of International Summer School for Jain Studies)
Program - 2 Individual Country Presentations by Delegates 1:10 pm Kuwait/Middle East - Jain Social Group International Federation (Mrs. Harsha D. Shah, JSGIF & Overseas Chairperson and Advisor to Arihant Social Group) 1:20 pm Young Jains UK (Presentation led by Chair Kewal Shah, Secretary Roshni Gudka,, Editor Jyoti Mehta & Members Parita Shah, Bhavni Shah, Dilesh Haria, Malini Shah) 1:45 pm Canada Presentation (Dr. Mahendrabhai Mehta, Past President, Jain Society of Toronto) 2:00 pm USA Lighthouse Center (Nirmala( Nancy Hanke, President of LHC Ann Arbor, USA) 2:15 pm Messages/Presentations by Other Countries
Program - 3 Pathways to Diaspora Collaborations 2:30 pm The Importance of Media in Assuring Unity of the Jain Diaspora (Dr. Mamta Shaha, Chair of JAINA Media Productions Committee & Founder of Mangalam TV Program, New York) 2:40 pm Spirituality, Moral Codes & Dietary Rules for 2nd Generation Jains in the USA (Dr. Bindi Shah, Roehampton University, London, UK)
Program - 4 Discussions, Q&A, Concluding Remarks 2:50 pm Q&A/Group Discussion on Common Challenges & Opportunities (facilitated by M. Mehta) 3:10 pm Prioritization & Next Steps for 1 Year Action Plan (led by Dilipbhai Shah/Arunbhai Mehta) 3:25 pm Closing Poem Readings by Nirali Becky Kleinschmidt (Lighthouse Center, Ann Arbor, USA) 3:30 pm Closing Remarks & Adjourn
Acknowledgements ORG COMMITTEE Dilipbhai V. Shah Dr. Sulekh Jain Pooja Jain Ajay Dagli Harshaben D. Shah (JSGIF/ASG, Kuwait) VOLUNTEERS Lataben Champsee Ashokbhai Domadia Dr. Nitinbhai Shah Dr. Varsha Mehta Anshul Mehta Vishal Mehta OUR MICHCHAMI DUKKARAM! FOR INADVERTENT OMISSIONS OR OTHER INCONVENIENCE CAUSED
Well-Wishers Wishers Messages Jain Social Groups International Federation (JSGIF) United Kingdom London Northwest Middlesex Group Mahavir Foundation Kuwait Kenya Canada Arihant Social Groups Dubai New Jersey Our Grateful Thanks to Mrs. Harshaben Shah (Kuwait) for Soliciting These Messages.
Some Diaspora Locations
North America - JAINA
Unique Message of Jainism Infinity & Eternity of the Universe (No Creator) Focus on Absolute Non-Violence Equality of ALL beings and souls Tolerance of Multiple Viewpoints (Anekantvad) Universal Prayer (Navkar( Mantra) Potential for Each Human to Attain Moksha Each Being is a Master of its Own Destiny Emphasis on Introspection & Forgiveness (Parushyan)
Our Common Concerns D e t r o S i a t n g 1. STAYING CONNECTED 2. CARING FOR OUR SENIORS 3. PASSING THE TRADITIONS & Sharing Our Jain Way of Life h
Mehtas 2 sons practice Jivdaya by refilling 30+ birdfeeders weekly at a nursing home (in USA)
Diaspora Academic Centers German Universities Hamburg, Berlin, Marburg University of Warsaw, Lund University (Norway) University of Michigan, University of Hawaii Harvard Divinity School Columbia University, Yale University Amherst College, Brown University UCLA, Cal. Polytechnic Pomona Rice University Florida International University classes by Jain samnijis McMaster University, Univ. of Montreal National University of Singapore Tokyo University
Followup/Next Steps Consensus is to Continue Diaspora Activities Next 2010 Diaspora Conference in the UK Attract participation from more countries Engage Jain community leaders Promote networks of youth organizations Include Jain Diaspora weblinks at www.jaina.org and www.jainlink..org
Thank You for Participating! Jai Jinendra!