SHRI RAJENDRA KUMAR JAIN

SHRI RAJENDRA KUMAR JAIN
(2-7-1902—1 1-1 2-1974)

Philanthrophist and industrialist late Shri Rajendra Kumar Jain had a highly respectable position among the Jains and non-Jains alike. He was General Manager of Hathua Sugar Mills, Bihar and Managing Director of Bharat Insurance Co. at Lahore. He lended his full cooperation in the establishment of Bharat Bank in 1942 and came to Delhi in 1943 as its Managing Director and opened a number of its branches in the country. He employed hundreds of persons and largely helped the needy and poor. Later on, he established his own industries. He was Director of Delhi Flour Mills Co. Ltd. (one of the largest Flour Mills in Northern India), Indian Hard-Ware Industries Ltd., Faridabad; Jain Farm Industries Ltd., Bijnor, Jain Farm, Kashipur (U.P.) and R.G. Govan & Co. Ltd., New Delhi.

Son of late Shri Mahavir Prasad Jain he was born in a rich zamindar family at Bijnor in U.P. Shri Jain was a zealous social worker since his young age. He established publication branch of Dig. Jain Parishad at his birth place Bijnor and edited and published 'Vir' from there bringing out several special issues containing useful religious literary material. He also published his own articles in 'Vir'. Barrister Champat Rai Jain had great appreciation for his social and literary services. He was Vice-President and later President of Bijnor Municipal Board and did many works of public welfare.

Keenly interested in programmes for education he established Vardhman Degree College at Bijnor in July, 1960 and was its Chairman. It imparts education in various subjects upto M.A., M. Com., B. Ed. etc.

Shri Jain took initiative in collection of unprotected and artistic Jain images scattered in the country and established Bharatiya Jain Kala Bhawan in Samantabhadra Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Daryaganj, Delhi. It has a collection of many artistic images. He cooperated in organising exhibitions and seminars on Jain iconography and sculpture. Few people know that he worked silently for the cause of Hindi and Sanskrit, starting of popular Hindi daily 'Navbharat Times' and promoted the Sanskrit Vidyapith established by All India Sanskrit Sammelan of which he was a respected office bearer. He donated lakhs of rupees for religious, educational and social programmes.

Shri Jain took active part in the development of Digamber Jain Parishad. For several years he was its General Secretary and later President. The Parishad Session which he had organised at Lahore was a further feather in his cap. He presided over the historic Devgarh Session of Parishad. The Digamber Jain Boarding House and Jain Temple at Lahore were constructed mainly due to his untiring efforts.

He was President of Jain Sabha New Delhi, Jain Society for Protection of Orphans, Dig. Jain Biradari New Delhi and various other institutions for several years; Trustee of Hira Lai Jain Hr. Sec. School, Delhi, Executive Chairman of All India Dig. Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirwan Mahotsava Society besides being associated with a number of other institutions. Deeply religious he was a keen and regular reader of religious books and had much regard for scholars and writers. The Jains of Delhi had honoured him with the title of 'Samaj Ratna' in October, 1972.