JAIN SCHOLARS and DIGNITARIES
Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji
Smt. Pramodaben Chitrabhanuji
Pujya Muni Shri JinChandra Maharaj (Bandhu Triputi)
Shree Devendrakeertiji Bhattarakji
Shree Tej Sahebji
Shree Rakeshbhai Jhaveri
Samani Mudita Prajnaji
Samani Shukla Prajnaji
Vidhikar Shree Narendrabhai Nandu
Shree Lalitbhai Dhami
Musician -Singer Karnik Shah
Smt. Sudhaben Sheth
Shree Dr. Hukamchandji Bharil
GUESTS & KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dean Dipak C Jain, Kellogg School of Management
Randy Ramey, Illinois State Representative, Dist 55
John Millner , Illinois State Senator, Dist 28
Ambassador Ashok Kumar Attri , Counsel General of India
Mike Kelly , Mayor of Bartlett
Sam Pitroda, Chair of India Knowledge Committee
Born on July 26, 1922 in a small town of Rajasthan, India, Gurudev spent the first five years of his monastic life in silence and meditation (when he was 20 years old). With this experience, he realized that the ultimate purpose of all life is to expand one 's awareness and to liberate the consciousness from attachment and aversion. This enlightened spirit brought wisdom, and with lucid language and eloquent speech, he made a home within the hearts of millions all over India.
He addressed other leading institutions of learning, such as Princeton, Sarah Lawrence, Yale, Cornell and State University of New York. He is the founder and advisor to the Jain Meditation International Center in New York City, a spiritual guide of 67 Jain Centers in North America under JAINA, and of other centers in England, Africa, Japan (Kobe), Singapore, Dubai and India. He is a world-renowned author of over twenty-five books which reflect his philosophy of world peace and nonviolence, emphasizing the need to appreciate the sanctity of ALL life and to build solidarity in the larger family of mankind.
With the deep principles of the philosophy, family oriented subjects, family life questions and about religious world question and the precise analysis of the religion world question this is the specific aspect of Munishri preaching. By help of examples of interest, the related various subjects on which Munishri had given the preaching's 300 audio cassettes and 100 Video cassettes have been produced, which become very popular.
Since 20 years back, due to his inspiration, in South Gujarat at Valsad nearby at Tithal Sea-Beach, one beautiful and natural environment area (Shantiniketan Sadhana Kendra) has been established. The place is known as Bandhutriputi Ashram, wherein Yoga Shibirs, Swadhyay Shibirs and Sanskar Shibirs are held often and thus the Organisers have planned for Ayurvedic Dispensary, Free Medical Camp etc. due to the humanity activities these have been existed and in this Sadhana Kendra, irrespective of any favor of creed, caste and religion, anyone who is willing can enter in this place and for self peace can be obtained.
Determined to transform Pujya Upadhyaya Shri Amar Muniji Maharaj’s vision into reality, Acharya Shri Chandanaji ventured into extremely hostile conditions in Bihar, India to establish the first Veerayatan site in 1973. Since then, Acharya Shri Chandanaji’s limitless energy and dedication has been the inspiration for a worldwide movement dedicated to uplifting humanity.
Acharya Shri Chandanaji renounced the worldly life in 1951, at the age of fourteen, dedicating herself to the cause of uplifting humanity. She has been nationally recognized for her lifelong work for the cause of humanitarianism. In recognition of her tremendous achievements, she has won many national and international awards, including the coveted Ahilya Bai National Service Award, presented by the government of India in 2002.
Acharya Mahaprajna - often described as "A LIVING LEGEND" is not merely a person but also a purpose , not just a being but also a belief . He is that perception that cannot be bound by Time or Territory.Thought’s churned out from the depths of his meditation are lasting and effective. He dispelled many myths about the religion and its rites and rituals. He said , "The religion which does not bring about a change in man’s life, which does not impart peace to him, deserves to be thrown in the river Ganges rather than carried on as a burden on one’s shoulders. Rituals or idol worship alone are not enough unless one’s conduct also gets transformed.Unless one is righteous and honest, both to himself and others, and leads a value oriented life, he is not religious despite his proclamation. He is an erudite scholar of Jain Agamas , a reputed critic of Indian and western philosophy ,a co-ordinator of Science and spiritualism and a sincere disciple of Acharya Tulsi.
Ambassador Ashok Kumar Attri came to
Since joining the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in July 1975, Mr. Attri has also held diplomatic assignments in Indian Embassies or High Commissions in
In between, Ambassador Attri has served in the Ministry of External Affairs of India as the Deputy Head of the
Ambassador Attri was born in Shimla on 5th June 1953 and is a Graduate in English Literature (honors) Political Science and History. He is married to Mrs. Usha Kiran Attri and they have two daughters.
Randy Ramey Illinois State Representative 55th District
Harry "Randy" Ramey's interest in government began early, with Youth in Government at York Community High School and then as an election judge in York Township before getting involved with Young Republicans at the University of Illinois in the early 1980's. He has served as a volunteer in the election campaigns of Ronald Reagan, Pate Phillip, George Bush, George Ryan, Bob Dole, and George W. Bush. He has been active in the Wayne Township Republican Organization since 1993 and currently serves as Chairman.
Before getting into elected office, Randy used his managerial training and love of working with people for a career in the food service industry. He has been a restaurant manager and chef. His move toward professional public service began in 1992 as an Outreach Representative for the Illinois Secretary of State's department of Senior and Community Services.
Dean Dipak Jain- Northwestern University- Kellogg School of Mangement
A distinguished teacher and scholar, Dipak C. Jain has been dean of the Kellogg School of Management since July 2001. He brings more than 20 years of experience in management and education to his position at the school’s helm.
Dean Jain is the Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor in Entrepreneurial Studies and a professor of marketing at the Kellogg School, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1987. Prior to his appointment as Dean, he served as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for five years and worked closely with former Kellogg School Dean Donald P. Jacobs to set the agenda for the school’s curriculum, faculty and research activities.
Sam Pitroda, Chair of India Knowledge Committee
Sam Pitroda is an internationally respected development thinker, telecom inventor and entrepreneur who has spent 40 years in Information and Communications Technology and related human and national developments. His experiences include private and public sectors and governments around the world. Credited with having laid the foundation for and ushered India's technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the digital divide. During his tenure as Advisor to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the 1980s Mr. Pitroda headed six technology missions related to telecommunications, water, literacy, immunization Dairy and oil seeds. He was also the founder and first chairman of India's Telecom Commission.
Currently he is chairman of India's National Knowledge Commission reporting to the Prime Minister. The commission's mandate is to offer a series of recommendations to the government on access, concepts, creation, application and services related to knowledge to help build excellence in the education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century and increase India's competitive advantage.
He owns close to a 100 patents. He is widely regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of handheld computing because of his invention of the Electronic Diary in 1975. He was also among the pioneers in digital telephone switching technology in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The decade of 1990 saw Pitroda explore the world of mobile phone based transaction technology and telecom developments in emerging markets.
A widely traveled man, Pitroda is a much sought after speaker at top international events. He has had speaking engagements around the world on diverse themes.
Pitroda divides time between Chicago and New Delhi.
