Washington, DC: A senior American diplomat has had a meeting with the members of the Jain community in Los Angeles, as part of the efforts of the US State Department to interact with the Indian-American diaspora, which plays a critical role in the ties between the two countries.
Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asia Donald Lu visited the Southern California Jain temple and had a meeting with members of the local Jain community.
During the meeting, Lu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the Jain community in Southern California, acknowledging its significant contributions to the broader Los Angeles area, a media release said.
He emphasized the vital role of Indian-Americans in strengthening the relationship between the United States and India, stating, “Indian-Americans are the backbone of our strong relationship with India. It was wonderful to connect with the Jain community in Southern California and learn about their many contributions to the wider Los Angeles area.”
Community leader Ajay Bhutoria, US President’s Advisor on the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Commissioner welcomed State Department Assistant Secretary Donald Lu along with Senior Advisor for Domestic Outreach Jennifer Miller and Marissa Morales, Administrative Support Specialist to the Assistant Secretary Joined by the Southern California Jain temple leadership team, which included JAINA Past Jain President Mahesh Wadher, Jain Temple President Sameer Shah and executive team members.
Ajay Bhutoria shed light on the Anuvrat Digital Detox Program initiated by Jain Terapanth Sect Acharya Mahasharman ji, emphasizing the program’s benefits to human relationships, mental health, and emotional intelligence. He also urged Assistant Secretary Lu to consider integrating the Digital Detox program into the State Department’s initiatives to support Mental Health wellbeing essential. Additionally, concerns regarding delays in visitor visa appointments in India were raised by Jeet Mehta.
During the visit, Shah, Wadher and the temple executive team provided invaluable insights to Lu into Jainism, its food practices, philosophy of non-violence, Lord Mahavir’s message of peace, compassion and non-violence, the Jain way of fasting traditions, and the community outreach and philanthropy work carried out by JAINA and the Jain temple to support individuals both locally in Los Angeles and in other parts of the US and abroad, in places like India and Nigeria.
Ajay Bhutoria expressed his appreciation for the State Department team’s visit to the Jain temple, highlighting the importance Lord Mahavir message of promoting peace, non-violence, and compassion, Bhutoria emphasized US India relationship is strongest under President Biden and Secretary Blinken and these people to people dialogues would further strengthen the US India relationship and help promote US Interests and shared values.
President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden extend greetings on Mahavir Jayanti
President Joe Biden and first Lady, Jill Biden, extended greetings to people of Jain faith on Mahavir Jayanti.
In a post on X, Biden stated, “Jill and I wish a joyous Mahavir Jayanti to people of the Jain faith. Today, let us continue to recognize the values Mahavir Swami embodied and celebrate by spreading love, joy, and harmony.”
