Kolkata Jain Community Organizes Silent Rally Seeking Justice for Deceased Ascetics

The Jain community in Kolkata has voiced strong displeasure over the fatal circumstances surrounding two revered Jain Aryika Matajis who died in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, during a recent road incident. Sakal Jain Samaj has called for immediate governmental action to guarantee accountability and protection for Jain saints and ascetics throughout India.

Community leaders gathered at a press conference on May 28, 2026, at the Press Club in Kolkata, where attendees included Vinod Kumar Kala, Jitendra Kala, Kamal Nayan Jain, Ajit Sethi, Amit Kothari, Mahendra Patni, Kamal Dugar, Ratan Dugar, Sanjay Jain, and numerous others.

The Jain community has raised alarm over what it characterizes as a troubling pattern of incidents involving Jain saints and sadhvis. These spiritual practitioners, who renounce worldly possessions and travel on foot as part of their Vihar practice, dedicate themselves to principles of non-violence, austerity, and spiritual development. The Rewa incident, the community argues, points to systemic vulnerabilities that threaten the safety and dignity of these ascetics.

In response, Sakal Jain Samaj has scheduled a Massive Silent Rally for Saturday, May 30, 2026, beginning at 7:30 a.m. from Shri Digambar Jain Bada Mandirji at 1 Bysack Lane. The procession will traverse Kalakar Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Brabourne Road, Tea Board, Ezra Street, Bentinck Street, and Dharmatolla, concluding at Metro Channel near Esplanade. There, community representatives will address participants before a delegation carries a formal representation to Raj Bhavan, the residence of West Bengal's Governor.

Community representatives have cited publicly accessible reports and video documentation that have generated considerable concern and anxiety among Jains across the country. They have called for an exhaustive, impartial, and transparent high-level inquiry to establish facts and ensure appropriate legal consequences for those held responsible.

Jain ascetics maintain strictly non-violent practices, traveling barefoot without vehicles, security details, or material possessions while promoting values of peace, restraint, compassion, and Ahimsa. The recurring nature of accidents and incidents involving these practitioners has emerged as a pressing concern for both the Jain community and broader civil society.

Sakal Jain Samaj has petitioned the Central Government and relevant State Governments to develop and execute a comprehensive "Sant Suraksha Protocol" designed to protect Jain saints and sadhvis during their travels. This protocol would encompass police collaboration, traffic management, highway safety assistance, warning systems, and route security. The organization has additionally requested establishment of a National Sant Safety Policy, standardized procedures for foot-traveling ascetics, preservation of all CCTV footage and digital records from the Rewa incident, stringent punishment for those responsible, and creation of emergency coordination frameworks in partnership with Jain organizations.

The community has reaffirmed its commitment to non-violence and constitutional principles while pursuing its objectives through peaceful democratic channels. It has appealed to media outlets, administrative authorities, and the public to support efforts aimed at safeguarding the welfare, dignity, and rights of Jain saints and sadhvis across India.