Danvir Manikchand Sheth - Book Summary

This document is a biographical account of Seth Manikchand (J.P.), a prominent Jain figure celebrated for his philanthropy and contributions to society. Here's a comprehensive summary:

Early Life and Family Background:

Seth Manikchand was born to Hirachand and Vijalibai. His paternal grandfather, Gummanji, was involved in the opium trade and moved from Bhindar (Udaipur, Rajasthan) to Surat in 1783 AD (VS 1840) to expand his business.
The family belonged to the Visa Humad caste. Hirachand was born and raised in Surat and married Vijalibai, also from the Visa Humad caste.
Manikchand was born on Dhanteras in VS 1908. His horoscope indicated a future of prosperity and fame. He was described as thoughtful and peace-loving from a young age.
Tragically, his mother passed away when he was only eight years old, leaving his father to manage both business and household affairs. This impacted the family's trade, leading Hirachand to send his elder sons, Motichand and Panachand, to Mumbai to learn the jewelry business.

Move to Mumbai and Jewelry Business:

Manikchand received his early education in Surat up to the fifth grade. At the age of twelve, in VS 1920, he moved to Mumbai with his father.
He learned accounting and developed a keen interest in gemology, with support from his sister Hemkumari. Through dedication and hard work, he became an expert in identifying pearls, earning the moniker "Ram" along with his three brothers (Motichand, Panachand, and Navalchand) due to their unity and honest dealings.
Panachand and Manikchand were particularly noted for their intelligence and diligence. After four to five years of hard work, they earned a good income.

Religious Inclination and Early Philanthropy:

Manikchand was deeply religious from a young age, maintaining a habit of temple worship from the age of eight. He continued this practice in Mumbai, visiting the Jain temple daily. From age 15, he began regular scriptural study.
By VS 1924, he had accumulated significant wealth from his gem appraisal work and started his independent jewelry business in VS 1925, being the first in the Visa Humad Digambar community to venture into this trade.
The brothers donated a percentage of their income to charity and handed over the rest to their father. Manikchand had a particular inclination towards giving.
In VS 1927, they established a firm named "Manikchand Panachand Jewellers" in Mumbai, which quickly gained repute.

Family and Business Prosperity:

Through diligent effort, honesty, and adherence to ethical standards, their business flourished, extending its reach across India and eventually internationally. Panachand excelled in purchasing, while Manikchand was skilled in sales. Manikchand emphasized truthfulness in business, stating, "Speak the truth, conduct business with truth, we earn money only through truth."
The business experienced great success by VS 1932, leading to the opening of branches abroad, including in England and other European countries. Their trade involved exporting goods via telegraph, generating significant profits.
Alongside material prosperity, the family cultivated inner virtues like humility, generosity, and simplicity. Manikchand was sociable and assisted Jain brethren coming to Mumbai for livelihood, generously supporting initiatives for the upliftment of the Jain community across India. His reputation as a great philanthropist spread rapidly.

Personal Life and Honors:

Manikchand's father, Hirachand, passed away in VS 1937 after suffering from paralysis. This loss deeply affected Manikchand, prompting him to redouble his charitable activities in his father's memory.
He married Chaturmati at the age of twenty-two. Due to his extensive involvement in business and social service, he had limited time with his family. They had two daughters, Maganbai and PhalKumari, and a son from a second marriage.
His first wife also passed away. He remarried due to pressure from relatives, as he had not had a son with his first wife.
At the age of 40, he built a grand residence, "Ratnakar Palace," in Mumbai, which included a library.
Impressed by his significant donation for the Hirabaug Dharamshala, the British government honored him with the honorary title of J.P. on March 14, 1906. Later, the Jain community bestowed upon him the title of "Jain Kulbhushan" on February 10, 1910.
He undertook a two-month tour of Burma in December 1911.

Significant Donations:

The document lists several of his major charitable contributions, totaling significant amounts for the time:

Donation of the "Jubilee Bag" building, valued at ₹2.5 lakhs.
Donation of ₹1.25 lakhs for the construction of "Seth Hirachand Gumanchand Dharamshala" (Hirabaug) in memory of his father.
Donations for Dharamshalas and temples in Surat, Palitana, Moodbidri.
Donations for boarding facilities and hospitals in Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Agra, Ratlam, Hubli.
Donations for the restoration of Sametshikharji, education in Kolhapur, and a girls' school in Surat.
Donations during a severe famine.

Later Years and Demise:

In his final years, a significant financial setback occurred due to the collapse of a prominent bank in Mumbai, which greatly impacted him and proved fatal.
On July 16, 1914, he spent the day at the Hirabaug office. After dinner, he went for a walk and later discussed religious education with his family. He experienced severe abdominal pain and passed away around 2:00 AM, chanting the names of Arihant and Siddha. Thousands attended his funeral, and condolence meetings were held across the country.

Contributions to Social Upliftment:

Establishment of Mumbai Digambar Jain Sabha (VS 1949): Influenced by Pandit Gopal Dasji Baraiya, he co-founded this organization dedicated to establishing Jain schools, conducting religious examinations, promoting religious education, collecting scriptures, providing scholarships, and working for the preservation of ancient pilgrimage sites.
Launch of "Jain Mitra" Magazine (VS 1956): He initiated this monthly magazine as the mouthpiece of the Mumbai Jain Sabha, with Pandit Gopal Dasji Baraiya as the editor and himself as the owner.
Establishment of Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Tirtha Kshetra Committee (VS 1959): He was instrumental in establishing this committee and served as its General Secretary.
Establishment of Syadvada Vidyalaya, Banaras (VS 1962): After retiring from business in VS 1957, he was inspired by Brahmachari Shital Prasadji to promote Sanskrit education. This led to the founding of Syadvada Vidyalaya in Banaras, which has produced thousands of students and hundreds of scholars over the past century.
Promotion of Education: He established educational institutions and supported scholars in producing high-quality religious texts, donating books to libraries and temples. He also maintained a large religious library at his residence. He supported secular education by opening hostels (chhatralayas) in various cities across India.
Social Reformer: He worked to eradicate social evils like child marriage, bride trafficking, and narrow-mindedness, and promoted women's education and compassion for living beings.
Personal Conduct and Love of Learning: Seth Manikchand was known for his simplicity, humility, perceptiveness, and adherence to the principles of Shravak Dharma. He was inclusive in his approach, allowing any Jain student to enroll in his hostels, regardless of sect. He strongly believed in limiting possessions after VS 1957, distributing his wealth to society. He extended his help without any discrimination during natural calamities.
His love for learning was remarkable. He gained knowledge of scriptures through reading and discussions with scholars who taught his daughter. He also delivered religious discourses.

Conclusion:

Seth Manikchand's life and work are presented as inspirational. His diligence, ability to understand people, vision for social upliftment, immense love for knowledge, boundless generosity, deep faith in philanthropy, continuous sacrifice of self-interest for the welfare of others, practice of simplicity and humility, adherence to truth and ethics even in the jewelry business, and courageous large-scale donations to various organizations without discrimination are highlighted as exemplary qualities. The document urges readers to emulate his virtues.