________________ Dr. Vilas Sangave Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangave, an eminent Sociologist and Jainologist, was born on 2nd June 1920 in Jaina familay at Solapur in Maharashtra. He had his College education in Poona and got his Doctorate in Sociology (on the study of Jaina Community) in 1950 from the University of Bombay. He worked for some years as Professor of Sociology in the renowned Karnatak College, Dharwad and Rajaram College, Kolhapur. He retired in 1980 as Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and since then he has been working as Honorary Director of Shahu Research Institute of Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Dr. Vilas Sangave has to his credit several research books and papers on sociology and social anthropology in Marathi and English. His books in Marathi have run into many editions, have been translated into Kannada and Gujarati and have received prizes for best books from Bombay, Poona and Kolhapur Universities in Maharashtra. In recent years Research Volumes on "Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Papers" edited by Dr. Vilas Sangave have been very much appreciated. Among Dr. Vilas Sangave's research publications in Jainology i) Jaina Community: A Social Survey. ii) Life and Legacy of Mahavira : A Social Study, iii) History of Dakshin Bharat Jaina Sabha, iv) Sacred Shravana Belagola : A Socio-Religious Study, v) Hirachand Nemchand : The Pioneer of Jaina Social Reform Movement, and vi) Aspects of Jaina Religion are considered as significant contributions to studies in Jaina Society, History and Religion. A renowned speaker in English, Marathi and Hindi and closely associated with several Universities and national level Research Institutes in Social Sciences and Jainology, Dr. Vilas Sangave has been specially honoured by the University of Cambridge (U. K.) in 1985 and by the Government of Bihar in 1989 for his distinctive services to research studies in Jainology. As a scholar member of special Delegation of International Jaina Community, Dr. Vilas Sangave participated in the presentation of "The Jain Declaration on Nature" to His Royal Highness Prince Philip at Backingham Palace in London October 1990. Dr. Vilas Sangave is also known for his lectures on Jain Social History delivered in several Universities in India. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org