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Address of Shri Shanti Prasad Jain On the occasion of the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Institute
It is my unique honour and privilege to have to welcome you here at the site of old Vaishali for unveiling the Mahavira Memorial and laying the foundation stone of the Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa. The establishment of an Institution like this, is one of the most outstanding fruits of free India in the field of our national regeneration and culture. All people and particularly the Jains all over the country are happy that at last, the vicinity where their last Tirthamkara Bhagwana Mahavira was born has been located. The owner of the sacred spot has made a donation of it to the Government of Bihar, and the letter have honoured it by setting up a memorial stone inscription there. The value of the monument has been highly enhanced by its being unvelied by your noble self today which is the 2,555,th day of the Tirthamkara's holy birth. This great event of today will, I am sure, gradually lead to the development of the spot as a unique place of pilgrimage for all those who honour the memory of founders of culture, philosophy and religion.
It gives me great satisfaction and joy that I have been allowed to associate myself with the establishment of this Research Institute by an humble donation for the initial cost of the necessary buildings and library etc. The Institute will, I am sure, develop to its full stature by your blessings and serve as a great centre for higher studies and research in Jain history, philosophy and literature which are its special spheres. Ahimsa was great principle of life imparted to us by a series of Jain prophets and saints. It has now been recognised as the basis of Indian nationalism and India's international policy. This principle would be studied and investigated here in its evolutionary and historical aspects. The activities of the Institute are expected not only to revive
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