JAINA BECOMES CHARTER SPONSOR OF AHIMSA CENTER AT CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY 
Pomona, June 16, 2004 – JAINA, The Federation of Jain Associations In North America, has pledged $25,000, recently to become Charter Sponsor of the "Ahimsa Center" at State Polytechnic University at Pomona, California. The Ahimsa Center will establish classes in ahimsa philosophy at the university. The center will also create workshops and develop curriculum for schools so that ahimsa is promoted in daily life.

Earlier this year, JAINA initiated a drive in US Congress to promote the idea of establishing a permanent entity for peace and non-violence. However this is the first time that JAINA is leading an effort to support an academic institution. JAINA and the members of Jain Community have contributed over $200,000 to the center. The Ahimsa Center will be the first such center in the nation where non-violence will be looked at as a way of life and as an effective tool for peaceful co-existence, beyond the context of war and peace. The center is established by the efforts of Dr. Tara Sethia, Professor of History and Director of the new Center. In congratulating Prof Sethia, Anop Vora, President of JAINA said "JAINA is very pleased to support this noble initiative of Professor Tara Sethia to promote the concept of non-violence, the fundamental tenet of JAINISM. The long term impact of Ahimsa Center could be enormous."

The Ahimsa Center's inaugural conference titled “Creating a Culture of Ahimsa: Visions and Strategies” was held at California Polytechnic in Pomona on May 14th -15th, 2004. According to Dr. Tara Sethia, the success of the conference is a tribute to the Ahimsa Center sponsors. She said, “Through their enthusiastic support, our sponsors have assumed a pioneering role in bringing the discussion of ahimsa into mainstream academic life.” For information on the Ahimsa Center please visit www.csupomona.edu/ahimsacenter.Information courtesy Mr. Nitin Talsania , E-mail: media@jaina.org  website: www.jaina.org

Courtesy of Ahimsa Times    www.jainsamaj.org     Email:ahimsa@jainsamaj.org