Submitted by Raju Shah:
The Boy Scouts of America celebrates Scout Sunday, which recognizes the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. Many of the scouting virtues align with our Jain principles and there are even Jain Religious Awards the scouts can earn.
The Jain Religion is about 6 Million people worldwide, and the US Jain population is around 150K. There is one umbrella organization of Jains in North America – JAINA, and there are many temples and societies across North America. In the DC/Baltimore metro area there is one primary organization, and several other smaller / localized organizations. JAINA has a Scouting Committee, and a number of years ago they created the BSA Approved / Recognized Jain Religious Award.
The Jain Society of Metropolitan DC, an organization around 40 years old with about 500 families as members, and the bulk of them live in the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan area (a range from about an hour west of DC to about an hour north of Baltimore). The organization has a religious school (a Sunday School equivalent) with about 160 students meeting on a bi-weekly basis.
Below are our many JAIN SOCIETY OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON (JSMW) Scouting members. Congratulations Scouts!
Aagam J. – Wolf – Pack 944 – Ellicott City, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Jiten T. – Webelos – Pack 1702 – Fulton, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Raj U. – Webelos – Pack 1450 – Rockville, MD – National Capital Area Council
Devika S. – AOL – Pack 1127 – McLean, VA – National Capital Area Council
Jayen T. – 2nd Class – Troop 540 – Fulton, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Anuva M. – 1st Class – Troop 1444G – Silver Spring, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Jainam S. – 1st Class – Troop 1130 – McLean, VA – National Capital Area Council
Lay S. – Star – Troop 874 – Ellicott City, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Maneet M. – Star – Troop 540 – Fulton, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Ajay M. – Life – Troop 1444 – Silver Spring, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Abhay M. – Eagle – Troop 1444 – Silver Spring, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Samyak J – Eagle – Troop 1998 – Frederick, MD – National Capital Area Council
Moksh S. – Eagle – Troop 1941 – Ashburn, VA – National Capital Area Council
Prasant U. – DL – Pack 1450 – Rockville, MD – National Capital Area Council
Jhalak M. – ASM – Troop 540 – Fulton, MD – Baltimore Area Council
Raju S. – ASM – Troop 1130 – McLean, VA – National Capital Area Council
JSMW has created an email list scouting_families@jainsocietydc.org for JSMW members who are also in Scouting so they can collaborate and stay connected (e.g., if you need help on Jain-friendly diets during camping.)
Feel free to reach out and ask for advice and join the community!
About the Author:
Raju Shah has been in the Scouting since elementary school (Baltimore Area Council), and is probably the first Jain Eagle Scout in the DC/Baltimore Metro area, and is among the first Jains that are Eagle Scouts. As a Jain pioneer in the Scouting program, he is now a proud father of 2 Scouts, and has remained active in Scouting in his new council (National Capital Area Council).
