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(७) सप्तभाषी आत्मसिद्धि
than the rest. Alas! He died all too young, when he felt that he was surely to see truth face to face. He has left many worshippers but not as many followers. His writings, largely consisting of soulful letters to inquirers, have been collected and published."
In the eyes of a foreigner
"It is significant that the chapter in the Autobiography which tells of young Gandhi's homecoming at the age of twenty-two and of his mother's death does not bear a title referring to either. The heading is 'Rayachandbhai'. This is the name of a man only a few years older than he, whom young Gandhi met on the evening of the very day he heard of his mother's death. Rayachandrabhai (as Gandhi affectionately call Rajchandra) was a deeply philosophical young man who came as close to being Gandhi's Guru as anybody ever did... In fact, this young man and his precepts were to become the anchor of young Gandhi's religious imagination during the very period of his life when he felt most lost..."- Eric H. Erikson: Gandhi's Truth" (1970)
APPENDIX B
RESUMÉ OF ACTIVITIES OF THE EDITOR OF THIS WORK AND HIS ORGANISATION
VARDHAMAN BHARATI INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
VARDHAMAN BHARATI, meaning the voice of Lord Vardhaman MAHAVEER, stands for the Universal propagation of AHIMSA, ANEKANTA and ATMAVIGYAN the essence of Jainism. It is an unusual type of institution dedicated to Spirituality, Meditation, Music and learning, with special emphasis on the Jaina way of life. Started in 1971, this institute as its mission, has been the first to put down the Jain sacred texts into recorded and musical form of Gramo.L.P. Discs.
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PIONEERING WORK:
Before Vardhaman Bharati undertook the task of Jainism Propagation as inspired by modern VisionariesSeers-like Pragyachakshu Dr. Pt. Sukhlalji and Yogindra Sri Sahajanandghanji, in the above manner, the sacred texts were believed to belong to print alone and recording them was considered sacrilegous. Naturally then, when the idea was put forth, it met with opposition from all quarters. What was not realised was that such records would widen the horizons of Jainism by making it more palatable through Music and taking it to various lands. Today, we have many such institutions and individuals emulating VARDHAMAN BHARATI, the result being a proliferation of spiritual and devotional music.
Jain Education International 2010_04
MAN WITH VISION & MISSION:
The sole hand behind the institute deserves to be presented too. He is Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya, Music Director, Writer-Lyricist, Singer and Academician. Born on October 21, 1930 at Amreli in Saurashtra region of Gujarat and studied at Poona, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Shanti Niketan, he holds two Masters' Degrees-one in Hindi, the other in English Literature. He is also a good Sitarist, having learnt to play while studying Vocal Music and the texts of Hindi Literature at Hyderabad. His Guru in Music was the well-known Sitarist Nadananda Bapu Raoji.
SAPTABHASHI ATMASIDDHI
Both music and academics flowed in his blood and he remained an active student, participating in literary and extra-curricular activities, including music and elocution; notable being the Extempore AIR competition in Hindi where he and his team represented the Osmania University, winning the top position as well as an invitee by the then Prime Minister Pandit Nehru to visit the Teen Murti Bhavan, New Delhi. Prof. Toliya also edited for two years the Osmania University Magazine ARCHANA.
He has been associated with scholars of the calibre of Pragyachakshu Dr. Pandit Sukhlalji (D.Litt; Padma Bhooshan), Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Reformers like Acharya Vinoba Bhave & J.P. gaining from them a few drops of their vast knowledge. Also several Saints- Jains and others-like late Yogindra Sri Sahajanandghanji of Hampi, Acharya Bhoovan Ratnasoori, Mataji Dhandevji and Tagore's Associate Soofi Saint Gurdial Mallikji-all of very high repute, have influenced his life. Being a synthesizer, Prof. Toliya has high regards for Modern Free Thinker J. Krishnamurti. At the same time, he has remained a Critic of Hypocrats and Showmen in the Spiritual Circles. VERSATILITY & VASTNESS:
With these qualifications to boot, Prof. Pratapkumar Toliya served as Lecturer, Departmental Head, Professor and Principal of several Gujarat and Bangalore Colleges for 15 years, at the end of which he resigned his permanent service as a Departmental Head of B'lore's Sathya Sai College in protest to hold the dignity of his religion during the 2500th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvana Celebration year. He then decided to devote all his time to Jainology, Literature, MusicEspecially his special area of experimentation of MEDITATIONAL MUSIC: MUSIC FOR MEDITATION: JAINA WAY OF MEDITATION MUSICALLY PRESENTED.
Having studied thoroughly Jain Literature, Culture and its very special musical aspects, he was authority enough to plod along single footed, which he did successfully. His very first L.P. record "BHAKTAMAR STOTRA" (1974) even now stands in the best-seller list. A musical recitation of the sacred
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