-Mahavir Sanglikar
(Please forward this articles to your relatives and friends from Jain community, as this subject is very important for the future of Jain students)
As I have written before for many times, although most of the Jains are religious, and they try to follow the key principles of Jainism, take part in socio-religious activities, they are not much aware of the separate identity of Jain community. So they are ignorant about creating documentary evidences of being Jains.
But now if the Jain parents stay ignorant about this, they are going to be a cause for loss of their children in educational 
and other fields. They are going to loose lot of money for this ignorance.
and other fields. They are going to loose lot of money for this ignorance.
States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi , Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhatis Garh, West Bengal , Uttar Aanchal, Haryana etc. have given Minority Status to Jain community. In near future, many other states too will give it.
Under minority status, Jain students get lot of benefits, including 50% reserved seats in Engineering and other colleges run by Jain community (If they are registered as Minority Institutions), Concession in fees, Scholarships etc. Further, Young Jains can get loans/funds without interests or low interest for establishing their own business. Beside that, some states like Maharashtra has offered 1% reservations for Jain candidates in Police Force and other departments.
But even if your son or daughter is a staunch Jain but not a Jain on documents, he/she will not be eligible to get the benefits mentioned above.
Documentation of religious identity begins right from the birth certificate. Then, when your child is admitted to school, you have to write Religion and Caste in the admission form. What you write, it will be mentioned on School Leaving Certificate. School Leaving Certificate is the most Important Document for the identity of your religion and caste.
Most of the Jain parents make mistakes while mentioning the religion and caste. Let us see what they write:
Religion: Hindu Caste Jain
Religion: Hindu Caste Marwadi
Religion: Hindu Caste Baniya
Many others write: Hindu Jain, Jain Marwadi, Jain Shwetambar, Jain Digambar etc.
It is a very sad thing that many Jains do not know that to which religion they belong. They do not know the difference between religion, caste, sect and linguistic group. So they make lot of mistakes.
Jainism is a religion. So if are a Jain by religion, you should write your religion as Jain and nothing else. Hinduism is also a separate religion, so if you are a Jain, how can you write your religion as Hindu or Hindu –Jain? Do you write it as Buddhist –Jain or Christian -Jain?
Remember that such mistakes will lead you children to heavy losses in future.
What about Caste?
While admitting the child in school, you have to mention his/her caste also. Here again, Jain parents make a mistake by writing Jain as a caste. Jain is not a caste, but a religion, you should always remember it.
Always tell what is asked. When one asks you your name, don’t tell him your city’s name. So when caste is asked, you should write the name of caste to which you belong. Remember that Jain, Digambar, Shwetambar, Marwadi, Gujarati, Dassa, Bissa are NOT castes.
You should mention whatever your caste is, i.e. Oswal, Chaturth, Agarwal, Khandelwal, Shrimali, Pancham, Porwal etc. According to the sociologists, there are about 120 castes, which follow Jainism. (Please have a look at the list of 50 major Jain castes at: http://jainstudents.blogspot.com/2010/06/list-of-major-jain-castes.html )
Perfect Examples:
You should write the religion and caste as following:
Religion: Jain
Caste: Oswal
Religion: Jain
Caste: Caturth
Religion: Jain
Caste: Shrimali
Religion: Jain
Caste: Agarwal
These are samples, so just put the name of your caste in caste field.
Why to write caste?
Simple reason is because it is asked. So what is asked, you should give the perfect answer. Further, some castes of Jain community have got O.B.C. status, and they get more benefits from the Government.
What if you have already made a mistake?
If you have already made a mistake, you should make corrections by meeting the Principal of the school where your child studies. Remember that the corrections can be made only at school level, and not after passing out Secondary School Examinations.
For further queries, please contact me at: jainway@gmail.com Please write only after reading this write up in deep and you have a question which is not answered here, to avoid unnecessary communication, I think I have given all the things here.
