________________
built in their places. Most of the newly built temples are marble temples and they have marble pats or mosaics made of pieces of coloured glasses. And these pats lack the artistic excellences of the older ones.
The monograph aims at incorporating in itself all that has been fortunately saved till now. It was necessary to add photographs at appropriate places to make Shri Vasudeo Smart's work of documentation more authentic. I am happy that a number of photographs have been included in the book. The posterity will have to take a special note of the yeoman's services rendered to the cause of the art in general and Jain art in particular by this artist.
I am grateful to Shri Prafullbhai Shah and Shilpaben Shah (Garden Silk Mills, Surat) for making available for our use in this art book the photographs of an old pat from a temple in Bharuch and its copy made by Shri Vasudeo Smart from their private art collection. I am equally grateful to my dear friends Shri Anil Relia and Shri Bimal Relia (Archer, Ahmedabad) for undertaking the work of designing and printing the book.
Shri Sevantilal Mehta has been inseperably associated with the whole project since its very inception. He has been a source of great help and rock support to me during my periods stresses and strains. I am thankful to the trustees of Shri Omkarsuri Aradhna Bhavan and Shri Vav Jain Sangh for their whole-hearted help. Lastly, I thank many unnamed devotees and the trustees of the various temples and all those who have helped us to make this dream come true.
I remember dear Neeta, Rajarshi and Krushnapriya with lots and lots of love.
I have had the proud privilege of visiting a number of Jain temples and be in the immediate presence of the rare pieces of art there, first with Shri Vasudeo Smart and then alone or together with a new set of friends. But during my second round of visits and even while was I was trying to cope up with a number of problems that kept constantly poppring up every now and then, I have felt my uncle's invisible presence beside me quite often. In all humility, I bow down to that invisible presence and feel elated to put this art book in the hands of art-lovers.
Vakbaras, November 12, 2001
"Roopayan" 11, Jai Somnath Society, Icchanath, Surat.
Jagdeep Smart
Jain Kashthapat Chitra : 11
Jain Education Intemational
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org