Nobility Of Savchand And Somchand

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Nobility of Savchand and Somchand":

The story, set in the latter part of the 16th century during the reign of Emperor Akbar, focuses on two noble Jain businessmen: Savchand Jeram and Somchand Amichand.

Savchand, a wealthy merchant from Vanthali in Gujarat, owned a large shipping business that traded with Indonesia and other countries. His fleet of 12 ships, returning from a voyage with valuable merchandise, was caught in a severe storm and stranded on an island for two months. The monsoon further delayed their return, leading Savchand's agents to believe the ships were lost.

This devastating loss plunged Savchand into financial hardship. He faced a significant shortage of funds and struggled to repay his creditors. One prominent creditor was the Prince of Mangrol, who had deposited Rs. 100,000 with Savchand – a considerable sum at the time, worth approximately Rs. 250 in modern currency. The prince, upon hearing about Savchand's misfortune, demanded immediate repayment.

Unable to raise the full amount quickly, Savchand desperately sought a solution. He had heard of Somchand Amichand, a respected businessman from Ahmedabad, and decided to approach him. Savchand, without Somchand's prior knowledge or permission, drew a promissory note payable by Somchand's firm to the prince. This act was done out of desperation and guilt, with Savchand's tears falling on the document, smearing the ink. He then presented this note to the prince, who promptly traveled to Ahmedabad to cash it.

Upon receiving the promissory note, Somchand's accountant discovered that Savchand had no account with their firm and the note was "unduly drawn." When informed, Somchand was puzzled but recognized Savchand's name as a reputable businessman. He noticed the water spots on the note and inferred Savchand's dire situation and desperation. Recognizing Savchand's trust in him, Somchand decided to honor the note, debiting the Rs. 100,000 to his personal account rather than the firm's.

The prince, reassured by the honored note, felt remorse for his insistence. He returned to Savchand and informed him that the amount had been received from Ahmedabad. Savchand, deeply grateful for Somchand's gracious act, later personally went to Ahmedabad to repay the Rs. 100,000 along with interest. However, Somchand refused to accept the repayment, stating that his books showed no debt from Savchand.

Savchand, feeling indebted, insisted on repaying the amount, even offering to pay whatever Somchand asked. Somchand, in turn, explained that he had acquired the promissory note for the "drops of tears" and that he had paid Rs. 100,000 to the prince and still had another Rs. 100,000 owed. He then offered Rs. 100,000 to Savchand, which Savchand also refused, insisting on repaying his debt.

This impasse led to a dispute where neither man was willing to accept the other's generous offer. They agreed to refer the matter to the Jain community (Sangha) in Ahmedabad for mediation. The executive committee of the Sangha, after hearing both sides, concluded that since neither was willing to accept the offered amount, it should be used for a noble cause. Both Savchand and Somchand agreed and, after adding a substantial sum from their own pockets, decided to fund the construction of a temple complex on Shatrunjay Hill.

The temple complex was completed and inaugurated in 1619 AD. In commemoration of their names and the spirit of their noble interaction, the complex is still known as the Sava-Som Tuk. The story concludes by emphasizing that honesty in life and business always pays off, and highlights Somchand's praiseworthy generosity in helping an unknown person in distress without expecting anything in return.