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 I was introduced to
Sarita Jain in Music Academy at a fund-raising play hosted by 'Mukti' an organisation for the welfare of the physically handicapped. Sarita and my aunt had known each other for a long time. My first impression of Saritaji was of a warm, soft-spoken, placid lady. Our conversation was cut short as the bell rang for the play to start and the entire hall slipped into the silent darkness.
I felt I had seen her somewhere. My grey cells began to work for the answer and then suddenly it all came back to me when the actor on the stage asked in for the day's newspaper. That was it. Within the next few seconds the entire article which had appeared that morning in the Indian Express, flashed in front of my eyes. I had seen her picture in the newspaper. I was delighted I had met the very same Sarita Jain - the Chennai-based social worker, who was behind the restoration of scores of Jain temples all over India.
I forgot the play and started thinking about her. I wanted to meet her and talk to her. The next thing I realised was the mid-break and like a chameleon I revolved my eyes in all directions with an anticipation of finding her. Luckily, I found her sitting just a few seats away from us. I quickly made my way to her to
make an appointment.
On the following Sunday I met her in her beautiful house. The house is symbolic of her fine taste and generates the same kind of warmth and affection as she does. I must say that she is also a wonderful hostess as I soon got a taste of her hospitality (I was served mouth watering samosas and sweets - the taste of which still lingers in my mouth).
We started talking about her life. Her childhood days took us away from the metropolitan city of Chennai to the quite village of Sharanpur in Uttar Pradesh where she was born and brought up. Daughter of a landlord, Sarita had a strong religious influence in her life during the formative years. Various religious ceremonies, keeping of 'fasts' and interaction with the ' Jain monks' formed a part of her upbringing. Her parents, unlike the many others in those times, never discriminated between their daughters and sons. As a matter of fact the education of a girl was considered to be even more important. Sarita herself holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science. In 1969 she moved to Chennai after she got married to Mahinder Jain, a Chennai-based businessman.
A devoted wife and mother she nurtured her family lovingly and brought about the best in everyone. As time gradually flew by the children became older and responsible. It also began giving Sarita the indication that now she had to move on to the next phase of her life - a phase of doing something for mankind. One day while she was sitting for her prayers in a temple at Chirkana, in her native district of Sharanpur, she felt the presence of a divine light upon her. As she looked around she saw nothing but the tattered walls and the peeling paintings of the temple. That moment she got the hint of what she was supposed to do. From then, she committed herself to the noble cause of restoration of Jain temples.
To begin with she started with the restoration of the Jain temples in her hometown. There has been no looking back since then. In the initial stages she faced a lot of problems both financially and socially. Some people even mocked her attempts. Despite the hardships she faced during the initial stages she was far away from calling it quits. She indeed is a strong woman who has shown her metal to everyone. She managed to raise above all the problems both mentally as well as spiritually and did not succumb to adversities.
 I wanted to know from where she derives this great strength. According to her, apart from her family who has always stood besides her; there has been a guiding divine force behind her, which has kept her going. Sarita has tremendous willpower. She believes it comes from her Jain background. I believe this spirit of willpower is what the Jains stand for.
Tracing the origin of the word Jain, I found that the word Jain or Jaina is derived from Sanskrit 'jina' meaning the conqueror or the victorious one. It refers to Mahavira Vardhamana who flourished as the greatest Jain teacher in the 6th century B.C. shortly before the birth of the Buddha. He left home as a youth and spent thirty years teaching and wandering back and forth across North India until he attained nirvana. His life is thus very like that of the Buddha and he regarded the world around him with doubts, preached non-violence, simplicity and the moderation, much the same as Buddha did.
Another interesting fact that I came to know was the secret behind the success of the Jain community. We all are aware of the fact that many of the Jains are mostly successful businessmen and merchants while some are involved in profession like jewellery making. One must wonder why were they not associated with other professions. The answer lies in the basic doctrine of Jainism that states that one should hurt nothing and should avoid causing any suffering to anyone. Hence they did not take any profession where they may cause harm even to a small creature leave alone a human being. Traditionally they did not become warriors, hunters or soldiers. They practiced vegetarianism and non-violence and carried on value-based trading and business. Their success lies in maintaining the quality and trust in any transaction.
(to
be continued...)
Natasha Garyali
E Mail: mirror_reflection@rediffmail.com
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