Gandhi Before Gandhi

Gandhi before Gandhi is a Gujarati Drama (play).  It is a play dedicated to the life of a forgotten Jain Scholar Shri Virchand Raghav Gandhi (1864 – 1901).

Chetan Dhanani as Virchand Gandhi

Shri Virchand Raghav Gandhi is being portrayed by Chetan Dhanani, who was absolutely amazing. I could find the audience applauding almost all of his dialogues.

Shri Virchand Raghav Gandhi was born on 25 August 1864 at Mahua in Gujarat and died at the young age of 37 on 7 August 1901. His short life was dedicated to the cause of Jainism and service to mankind. Besides mastering as many as fourteen languages, his religious knowledge was not restricted to Jainism alone. He was a student also of Buddhism, Vedanta Philosophy, Christianity and Western Philosophy. He was appointed the honorary Secretary of the Jain Association of India at the very young age of 21. He was instrumental in getting the slaughter house at the sacred Hills of Sammetshikarji closed down and in getting the poll tax that was levied on Jain pilgrims at Shatrunjaya Tirth by the Thakore Saheb of Palitana abolished.

Virchand Gandhi (Left) with Swami Vivekananda

He was a true patriot. When India was facing a devastating famine in 1897 he was responsible for sending Rs. 40,000/- towards famine relief and a shipload of grains to India from U.S.A. for famine relief.

He represented the Jain religion in the first ever held parliament of World Religions at Chicago in 1893. He spoke on various Indian Philosophical systems. He defended Indian culture setting right several areas of misinformation. He delivered about 535 speeches on Jainism, other religions and cultural and social life in India. He founded several institutions and societies in the west. He wrote books on Jain philosophy, yoga philosophy, the concept of Karma and the six systems of Indian philosophy. He also translated a French book “An Unknown Life of Jesus Christ”

Virchand Raghav Gandhi on 5 Rupees Stamp

Virchand Gandhi was also recognized and honored by Government of India by issuing a 5 Rupee stamp.

The Drama is definately worth watching, not only for Jain friends but also everyone who feels for the forgotten hero Shri Virchand Raghav Gandhi.

Kudos to the team including the stars, Chetan Dhanani, Mukund Panchal, Ashok Parmar, Pooja Damania, Vaishali Panchmatia, Jeetu Kotak, Hemant Bhatt, Ketan Trivedi, Paurav Shah, Nimesh, Jigar Bhooch, Malhar Thakar, Dristi, Master Rushabh