Well with the belief in what they got, they also learnt to give back. They felt content with serving people as they understood it as a way to do their dharma with karma (moral responsibilities and duties). On the contrary, people today hardly have time to care about these aspects in their lives as everyone is so busy in the rat race of career stability and profits that they have no time to stand and stare at things around them. And even if people intend to do or think something beyond the box, they make sure that there is something to gain.
But one man stands tall amidst all others who say that there is no one in today’s ultra-modern world who can genuinely think of contributing something to the society without any greed and expectations behind it.Kamal Jain, chairman of Hilltake Industries Private Limited, at 47, is not just big with vision. What he has done for Nepal is bigger than anything. The statue of Lord Shiva in Sanga of Bhaktapur district describes a lot about him.
Till eight years ago, Kamal Jain was clueless about what he would do in life other than establishing himself as a business tycoon in Nepal. He always had a deep feeling inside him that he should do something apart from business, something that would bring him no straight gains, something that would give him both mental and emotional satisfaction, and something that had no relations with the commercial world of today.
While he was in Gurgaon of Delhi eight years ago, Jain, originally from Siliguri in Darjeeling, came across an interesting temple. It was a temple of Lord Shiva, made by the Indian business tycoon Aditya Birla where the statue of Lord Shiva was of 65 feet tall. There and then he got clicked by a vision for his life. He dreamt of constructing a bigger temple to Lord Shiva in Nepal; much bigger than Birla’s. He decided to place a sculpture of Lord Shiva that would be 108 feet tall when completed.
Having invested handsomely, and after five years of patience, Kamal Jain’s temple is now almost complete and will soon be opened officially for all the devotees. The coincidence here is that when Lord Pashupatinath, more popularly worshipped as Lord Shiva, is having a difficult time residing peacefully in his holy residence in Pashupatinath Temple due to political tensions in and around the holy premises lately, Jain seems to have understood the pains, and has got for the Almighty a more beckoning atmosphere to stay without much disturbances.
Some 20 kilometers away from Koteshwar in Kathmandu, the 108-feet-tall Lord Shiva stands calm and relaxed. It is in Sanga, in Bhaktapur district, where Kamal Jain owns 70 ropanis of land – the land that holds his vision and dream.
The hill of Sanga that will soon turn into a holy place to visit was once owned by Ranjan Raj Khanal, former personal secretary to the late King Birendra. However, Khanal did not own the entire hill. He had an aim to open a village resort on that hill. But because the property’s deeds were held by a bank, and Khanal was unable to obtain them, Jain bought the property and its surroundings as well for a better purpose.
More surprisingly, while the Jain community don’t follow any particular religion and don’t bow before temples or idols, Jain initiated to establish a temple of Lord Shiva because he says he is much attached to Hindu religion, and is a devotee of Pashupatinath.
With the construction of the 108-feel-tall Shiva statue already completed, only some minor works like coating and finishing are pending. The other attraction of this temple is that there is a clean garden, and more sculptures are soon to be added. The principal statue itself has become a masterpiece as its concept, design, and carving have come together neatly with Lord Shiva standing with his trishul (trident), serpents around his neck, and attired in leopard skin, just like we imagine Him to look like.
The statue, whose foundation is fifty feet deep, will soon have more ensembles, says Jain. He has already started making the Natural Cure Hospital right next to the huge sculpture. The hospital will provide health facilities through natural remedies like physiotherapy, massage, Jacuzzi, acupuncture and more in a peaceful atmosphere. Furthermore, Jain has already talked to different professional gardeners and architects to add beautiful relaxing zones in the property and even plans to extend the land area.
Apart from the hospital in construction, it is free for all to visit the grand place and worship Lord Shiva. Though Jain had decided on Rs 40 as entrance fee four months back, he has withdrawn it as well. He says he was compelled to introduce the entrance charge because the holy site was turning into “a honeymoon location” for romancing couples. The entrance fee was also to discourage the “hooligan attitude” of people who stayed on the hill all day long for boozing picnics.
Though Kamal Jain has a plan to officially open the temple on the day of Maha Shivaratri that falls in February-March, he fears he may not be able to do so because Hindu priests have advised him to do the formal opening in May-June. He is advised that the said months are suitable for a proper Puja of Lord Shiva before the opening.
Quite close to what Jain wished for, his journey of fulfilling his project was however not that easy. To convince the locals, to get their support and then to begin the entire process was certainly a tough job for him.
“I never received any support from anyone. But what I’m happy about is nobody has protested, either. As this was my dream, I wouldn’t want to complain much too,” Jain said.
What leaves him in disappointment is the government’s ignorance about his initiative.
“I’ve approached different levels of the government for support even though I don’t need any financial backing from them for constructing the temple. I can do that on my own. I’m just looking forward to get help in constructing a proper road from Jorpati to the temple,” he urged. “I’ve already have the statue made. Now this is the property of Nepal that will help the nation to be recognized in one more way. Please help me construct the road.”
He further highlighted how Hindus believe that one should never enter a holy place facing its back; they should enter through the front face, and ironically, people are forced to come through the back way to the temple to this day. The road that takes one to the location for now is also paved by Jain.
“There’s nothing I look for gaining from this. And please don’t regard me as someone too generous and great. I’m just like you all. I had a dream and I’m fulfilling it,” the man who does not wish to take credits concluded.
It is yet to be seen whether the government channels will listen to the only appeal this creative mind has made. His approach is indeed worth appreciating for he, despite being originally from India, has thought something big for Nepal. And if Kamal Jain has succeeded in fulfilling his dreams, one thing must not be forgotten: that his initiative will attract more tourists to Nepal, especially when Visit Nepal 2011 is less than two years away. And of course, quite another thing not to be forgotten is the employment opportunities for the unemployed people residing in and around the temple area.
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