Jain Education and Research Foundation
Shivani Bothra successfully defended her master's thesis titled: The Anuvrat Movement: Theory and Practice on March 28, 2013. Prof Nathan Katz, Bhagwan Mahavir Professor at the Department of Religious Studies at FIU was Shivani's thesis advisor. Shivani is the first MA with research on Jain Studies after the establishment of Bhagawan Mahavir Professorship in Jain Studies at FIU.
Shivani did her first MA from Jain Vishwa Bharati University, Ladnun, India. Her MA project at Jain Vishwa Bharati was to determine whether the use of meditation would be perceived as helpful in managing anger. This experiment was conducted at the Mental Health Copper Team, Dallas Veteran's Administration, Dallas TX (USA). She came as an exchange student from Jain Vishwa Bharati University, Ladnun, India to pursue a full-time graduate degree at FIU, USA.
She is now awaiting her graduation day in spring 2013 from the FIU with MA in Religious Studies. Her Master thesis was descriptive and an analytical study of the Anuvrat Movement, a modern secular expression of Jainism inspired by the saint and revolutionary thinker Acharya Tulsi, 9th Acharya of Jain Shwetambar Terapanth tradition. The thesis aimed to evaluate the Anuvrat Movement introduced by Acharya Tulsi as a secular and moral movement for fostering social responsibility of an individual.
The study considered in some detail the historical context within which the movement emerged. The thesis provided a much-needed analysis of the 11 vows formulated by Tulsi in the model of the traditional vows in Jainism. It examined the question whether these vows are relevant and effective in the contemporary Indian society, and whether Tulsi's movement can cross the geographical boundaries of the Indian sub-continent to be a part of larger global initiatives. The study explored the social significance of the concepts of nonviolence, morality, social justice and sustainability in the wider global community. Therefore, a multiple research methodology was utilized employing historical method, ethnographic fieldwork and sociological method. The research findings suggest the tenuous effect of the vows. It also suggests a positive association between the exemplary charismatic role of a leader and the popularity and longevity of social movements in India.
Shivani received "Outstanding Award" in the department and was also awarded the Bhagwan Mahavir Fellowship, several internal research grants during the graduate studies at FIU. Based on her research and presentation, was awarded the third prize in the Graduate Scholarly Forum, held in March 2013 at FIU. Shivani now plans to pursue a PhD in Jain studies.
HN4U:
FIU Graduate Student Scholarly Forum, 25.03.2013:
Shivani Bothra presenting her thesis "The Anuvrat Movement: Theory and Practice" and was awarded third position.
