Higher Education and Research in Prakrits and Jainology

SR No.: 011045
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gokulchandra Jain
Publisher: Sampurnanda Vishva Vidyalaya Varanasi
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 69
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 9

Developments
With the incrcasing interest in higher cducation and rescarch in Prākrits and Jainology many new developments have been made during later half of the present century. Some areas of higher studies and research have been clearly located. It has been realised that Prākrits and Jainology havc vast scope for interdisciplinary studies in many branches of Humanitics and Social Sciences. As already stated above, scholars have detected materials of high importance relating to natural sciences and life-sciences 100. Works on Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Astrology have been done. A brief account of the development will be helpful for perspective planning, and to the rescarcher interested in this Faculty of learning.
The role of Seminars, Confernces, Summer-schools, Workshops etc in focussing the importance of Prākrits and Jainology proved to be of great signficance. Sessions of All-India Oriental Conference and introduction of an independent section of Prakrit and Jainism' in it, is of historical importance. Right down from the Kashmir valley session (1961) to the Gauhati session in Assam and the Silver Jubilee Session (1969) at Jadavpur, West Bengal, wc can see the increase in the number of participants in the Section of Prakrit and Jainism. To my pleasure, I had the opportunity to attend all these sessions. Further incrcase could be seen in the latest session at Jaipur (1982).
U. G. C. Seminars' organ:scd at the Shivaji University, Kolhapur (1968), University of Poona (1969), Magadh University, Bodhgaya, University of Udaipur (1973), Gujarat University, Ahemdabad (1973) and Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidalaya, Varanasi (1981) proved to be of greater values. Seminars at Ujjain, Mysore and Patiala also deserve mention.
Among other academic organisations the role of Jainological Research Sociсty deserves special mention. The first Summer School at Saugor (M. P.) in 1969 and the first National Conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 1973, were most significant. Sessions of Jaina Darshan Parishad and some other academic societies helped in bringing together scholars, ascetics and house-holders who could work for these studies.
The recommendations of the U. G. C. Seminars mentioned ahove drew attention of the commission, and the universities were asked if they