Shikharji movement

File:Akbar's_Farman.png

The modern history records show that Shikharji Hill is regarded as the place of worship of the Jain community. During the regime of Mughal's rule in India, Emperor Akbar in the year 1583 had passed an official order (farman) granting the management of Shikharji Hill to the Jain community to prevent the slaughter of animals in the vicinity.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QM6SMwEACAAJ|title=Imperial Mughal Farmans in Gujarat|year=2011|publisher=Manekshah Sorabshah Commissariat}}

The farman had recognised the sovereign ownership of jain sangh over the hills through Spiritual Sovereign Jainacharya Heervijaysuri{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiravijaya | title=Hiravijaya }}{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}} as representative of Jain Sangh.

This Act came into force on 25/09/1950 by Bihar Government of India. As per this Act, all the proprietors, mortgagees, lessees and tenure-holders in land, including interests in trees, forests, fisheries, jalkars, ferries, hats, bazaars, mines and minerals have to be transferred it to the State Government

With the help of this act, the state government of Bihar on 02/05/1953 issued a notification under Section 3(1) of the Bihar Land Reforms Act that the entire Shikharji Hill will hence forth be rendered as state's property.

Jains believe as a fall out of this newly enforced act, activities like Tree Plantation, Pig farming, Cultivations, Building of Sanatorium, Helipad, tourist resorts etc. could find a way to flourish on the Holy Hill.

Despite a clear mention of the following point in chapter I, section 4 (f) of the Bihar land reforms act- " ….nothing contained in this clause ….authorize the Collector to take charge of any institution, religious or secular…….."{{Cite web|url=https://www.sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/4184.pdf|title=Supreme Court Of India|access-date=21 October 2018}}

The Govt. has carried out various activities listed below.

• With Tourism flourishing in India, Govt. wants Shikharji to be developed as a Tourist destination.{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/parasnath-temple-area-to-be-developed-into-tourist-centre-114022400699_1.html|title=Parasnath Temple area to be developed into tourist centre|date=24 February 2014|work=Business Standards|access-date=21 October 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/parasnath-temple-area-to-be-developed-into-tourist-centre-670420.html|title=Parasnath Temple area to be developed into tourist centre|date=24 February 2014|work=News18|access-date=21 October 2018}}
• Government declared that Marang Buru temple is to be constructed on this particular Hill and not on any other place.
• Construction of helipad on the hill.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Plot-identified-for-helipad-atop-Parasnath-Hill/articleshow/50531293.cms|title=Plot identified for helipad atop Parasnath Hill|date=11 January 2016|work=The Times Of India|access-date=21 October 2018}}
• Construction of Tree House and Cottages.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Tree-homes-in-Parasnath-soon/articleshow/50914644.cms|title=Tree homes in Parasnath soon|date=9 February 2016|work=The Times Of India|access-date=21 October 2018}}

There are inhibitions of the Jain community that developing the hill into a tourist place will attract a lot of other social and cultural evils. Hotels, motels, non veg food, hunting, gambling, prostitution, adultery etc. may become rampant in times to come.

On 22 September 2015, the Government released a press note stating that it shall focus on developing the hill as an International spiritual centre for peace and enlightenment.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/CM-focuses-on-spiritualism-not-tourism/articleshow/49104397.cms|title=CM focuses on 'spiritualism', not tourism|date=25 September 2015|work=The Times Of India|access-date=21 October 2018}} This press release of Government was prompted because a delegation of the Jains’ had gone to protest against the prospective idea of the Government to build a Helipad. When the delegation pointed out their concerns for such a step, Government retracted and agreed in principle to withdraw its development plans and instead decided to glorify the sacredness of the hill. On 27 December the CM reiterated the above actions which will be taken by this government.{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/jharkhand-cm-promises-to-develop-jain-pilgrimage-centre-sammed-shikharji/states/news/1089143.html|title=Jharkhand CM promises to develop Jain Pilgrimage centre Sammed Shikharji|date=27 December 2017|work=United News Of India|access-date=21 October 2018}} However, Government chose to construct the helipad and built barracks for military.

On 5 January GOI stayed the implementation of Clause 3 of the Eco Sensitive Zone Notification S.O.2795(E) dated 2 August 2019 after a meeting with Jain community members{{cite news|title=Press bureau of India|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1888910}}

All the sects of the Jains’ consider this hill as the most sacred place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npnews24.com/2018/10/12/jain-community-to-hit-roads-for-save-shikharji/|title=Jain Community To Hit Roads For Save Shikharji|date=12 October 2018|work=NP News 24|access-date=21 October 2018}} Protests across the country from the people of Jain community have taken place in the form of on/off line petitions addressed to the PM and the CM of Jharkhand state.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npnews24.com/2018/10/15/save-sammed-shikharji-jain-community-from-pune-appeals-to-pm-modi/|title='Save Sammed Shikharji" Jain Community From Pune Appeals To PM Modi|date=15 October 2018|work=NP News 24|access-date=21 October 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.bangalorenewsnetwork.com/news_detail.php?f_news_id=1374|title='Save Shikharji Campaign' launched nationally by Jain Community Members|date=6 October 2018|work=Bangalore News Network|access-date=21 October 2018}} Protest rallies, congregations and protests on social media were organised Jains.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/jain-women-to-march-in-silence-for-holy-mountain/19886172|title=Jain Women To March In Silence For Holy Mountain|date=13 October 2018|work=Mid-Day.com|access-date=21 October 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://thisweekindia.news/article/save-shikharji-campaign-launched-nationally-by-jain-community-members/15702|title='Save Shikharji Campaign' launched nationally by Jain Community Members|date=8 October 2018|work=This Week India|access-date=21 October 2018}}

The protests, started in 2018, were against the secular and religious conversion of Shikharji Hills and promotion of commercial activities, all of which are repugnant to the Jain religion.{{cite web | url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9GpP4LCqf-IibxlglcKhjwilZl6OzN-/view?usp=share_link | title=Save Shikharji - Protest Against Religious Conversion of Shikharji.jpeg }}

In addition, another parallel campaign was initiated by Jain Media in 2021 to declare Shikharji as a "Holy City." Jyot organisation considers this campaign untimely, misleading, lacking vision and clarity and ambiguous because it does not focus on the desired outcome of maintaining the sanctity and Jain character of the Hills. The organisation expects Jain Media to rectify the campaign and focus on appropriate issues by raising the existing demand of declaring the entire Shikharji Hill as a Place of Worship of Jains.{{cite web | url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/19id8IObY-13zBcL_4Sa93ZI6JbvcGBo7/view?usp=share_link | title=LTR to Jain Media Team from Save Shikharji Team..PDF }}

On 10 October 2018, government orally assured that it will not construct any other structure on the hill which will affect sanctity of Jains. However, Jains are still demanding a written statement from the concerned authorities declaring Shikharji as a place of worship, as they believe they have been betrayed by giving oral assurances earlier by the government. On 26 October 2018, the Government of Jharkhand issued an official memorandum declaring the Shikharji hill as a 'place of worship'.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://saveshikharji.com|Save Shikharji}}
• {{Official website|https://www.jaina.org/news/422789/SAVE-SHIKHAJI-CAMPAIGN-LAUNCHED-BY-JAIN-COMMUNITY-MEMBERS.htm|Save Shikharji Campaign launched by Jain Community Members in USA}}

Category:Movements

Category:Protests in India