London, UK –29th April 2025
The Palace of Westminster was the setting for a distinguished gathering hosted by the Institute of Jainology (IOJ), where leaders of the Jain community, scholars, parliamentarians, interfaith representatives, business leaders, journalists and supporters came together for an evening of reflection, recognition and celebration.
The event was chaired by Dr Mehool Sanghrajka MBE, Managing Trustee of the IOJ, and attended by key dignitaries including Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement), Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, and Bob Blackman MP, Conservative MP for Harrow East.
In his opening remarks, Dr Sanghrajka welcomed the guests and introduced a diverse programme. He led a solemn moment of reflection for the recent passing of Pope Francis and the tragic massacre in Kashmir, marking the evening with compassion and unity.
The atmosphere was set with the Navkar Mantra, recited by Jain ascetics Samani Malay Pragyaji and Samani Neeti Pragyaji, imbuing the historic committee room with peace and reverence.
Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith, Communities and Resettlement, delivered the keynote welcome. Reflecting on his own audience with Pope Francis, Lord Khan spoke movingly of the Pope’s “wisdom, compassion and care for the disadvantaged,” and praised the Jain community for its dignified representation at the Vatican during the funeral.
He went on to commend the IOJ’s recent publication, which analysed data from the 2021 Census to provide insight into the presence and contribution of Jains in the UK. Lord Khan noted he would be sharing this data with appropriate national bodies.
Speaking of the life and message of Lord Mahavir, Lord Khan highlighted his teachings of non-violence, friendship, truth and the path to inner spiritual bliss, describing them as “timeless values that offer a model for modern society.”
He paid tribute to the OneJAIN Community Award winners and lauded the IOJ’s efforts to raise the community’s profile. He concluded with a call for greater political engagement, expressing his hope to see a Jain MP in Parliament in the near future and affirming his pride in Britain’s status as “the most amazing multi-ethnic country in the world.”
Bob Blackman MP, long-time supporter of the Jain community and Conservative MP for Harrow East, followed with remarks echoing Lord Khan’s praise for multi-faith Britain. He also thanked Lord Khan for his dedication to strengthening interfaith unity in the UK.
Blackman spoke about the importance of accurate census data, emphasising how it drives the provision of vital public services, including adult care and children’s services. He reiterated his ongoing work to support the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Jains, and expressed his intention to push for reforms that would make such representation easier for minority communities.
He further invited members of the Jain community interested in political involvement to come forward, mentioning his role in candidate development for the Conservative Party. He voiced support for Cllr. Anjana Patel in her bid to become Mayor of Harrow, and was praised by Dr Sanghrajka for his steadfast support of the Jain community.
The evening’s next segment celebrated outstanding service and achievement through the OneJAIN Community Awards, introduced by IOJ Director Amit Latia.
- The OneJAIN Young Achievers Award was presented to Dr Saurabh Shah, whose citation highlighted his professional excellence and dedication to Jain values in public life.
- The Excellence in Community Service Award was awarded to Mr Niraj Sutaria, President of the Mahavir Foundation, recognised for his significant contributions to community welfare and spiritual life. His citation was read by IOJ Director Ajay Punatar.
Both recipients expressed gratitude for the honour, thanking OneJAIN, their mentors, families and colleagues for their support and encouragement.
Following the awards, Nirmal Shah, Vice President of the Oshwal Association, gave a heartfelt recognition of the ten Jain players and coaching team who represented England at the first Kho Kho World Cup, held in Delhi, India. Two parents of the athletes gave short responses, thanking the Oshwal Association for organising training and supporting youth involvement in sport.
In a deeply moving segment, Professor Nalini Balbir, a world-renowned Indologist and scholar of Jainism, Sanskrit and Prakrit, was presented with a Festschrift—a commemorative academic volume compiled by her students and peers.
Dr Sanghrajka recounted her long association with the IOJ, which spans decades of service to Jain scholarship. A recipient of the IOJ Ahimsa Award more than 15 years ago, Professor Balbir played a central role in curating the Catalogue of Jain Manuscripts at the British Library, and was editor-in-chief of the Jainpedia project, the world’s largest digital platform for scholarly resources on Jainism. The IOJ contributed to the publication of the Festschrift in recognition of her extraordinary service.
Professor Balbir graciously accepted the tribute, expressing humility and gratitude. She said the volume represented not only scholarship but the “time, thoughts and generosity” of her colleagues. She described her academic journey as one of “lucky encounters”, and said that reading the Festschrift would likely remind her of how much more there is to learn. She concluded by thanking the IOJ and wider Jain community, expressing that she was “honoured beyond words.”
Professor Jim Mallinson, Boden Professor of Sanskrit, delivered an insightful talk on the Jain contributions to the history and philosophy of yoga. He traced the ethical foundations of Yoga—such as ahimsa, yam and niyam—to Jain teachings, and highlighted the influence of Jain philosophers like Hemchandracharya, who described headstand postures as early as the 12th century.
He gave a comparative overview of Sanskrit literature and Jain scriptural preservation, noting that while only 30,000 Latin and Greek manuscripts exist, there may be as many as 30 million Sanskrit texts, including many held in Jain institutions. He underlined the importance of incorporating Jain traditions in any serious study of India’s cultural and intellectual history.
Next, Pallvee Shah, a former corporate tax adviser, shared her inspiring journey from a successful career at Deloitte to running a charitable organisation, Help Save Lives, in Kenya. Her work supports: 15,000 girls and women through period dignity programmes, over 1,000 students through school sponsorship, vocational training and university funding, and 200+ families through farming training, business support and essential aid.
Her message was one of courage and purpose, urging others to consider bold changes in their lives to make a difference.
Dr Shushma Jansari of the British Museum announced a major new exhibition on India’s sacred art, opening 22 May 2025 and running until 19 October 2025. The exhibition will highlight Jain artistic contributions alongside other religious traditions, and includes extensive collaboration with Jain curators to ensure authenticity and cultural respect.
Dr Marie-Hélène Gorisse, Assistant Professor in Jain Studies at the University of Birmingham, spoke of the positive developments in the academic study of Jain philosophy. With the support of IOJ and community partners, the university has been able to expand its work internationally, reaching Africa, South America, the Philippines and beyond. She encouraged those interested in furthering Jain studies to get in touch.
Dr Sanghrajka closed the evening by expressing his deep thanks to Lord Khan, Bob Blackman MP, Gareth Thomas MP, and all contributors and guests. He particularly acknowledged the many who had travelled long distances to attend.
The event marked another important milestone in the growing public recognition of Jainism in the UK—its values, achievements and vision for a more peaceful, inclusive and enlightened society.
Event Video Summary
https://youtube.com/shorts/WVC0W7R1TIU
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