Ahimsa Times 2007 06 SrNo 84

SR No.: 523584
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ahimsa Times
Publisher: Ahimsa Times
Publication Year: 2007
Total Pages: 15
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Ahimsa Times, & India
File Size: 331 KB

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AHIMSA TIMES - JUNE 2007 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
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the inaugural function. The chief guest was Shri Swadesh Bhushan Jain, Executive President of Punjab Kesari. The conference was attended by a large number of delegates, representing different Jain newspapers, magazines and Internet news media being brought out from various towns in the country, namely, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Several important decisions were taken with the objective of uniting the journalists belonging to Jain community, strengthening
the Jain Samaj, as a whole and taking up the causes and problems faced by it, which are coming in the way of fostering unity amongst different sects. A Jain Media Centre was proposed at the conference through which, a web site could be established in order to provide a regular news service to Jain newspapers and magazines.
Eminent Muni, Shri Vivek Sagar Ji maharaj graced the occasion with his holy presence and blessed the conference to develop ways and means to unite and strengthen of Jain community. The main participants, who addressed the conference were Sarva Shri Shri Amrit Jain from Amrit India from Jaipur and JInendu from ahmedabad, Anil Jain from Ahimsa Times, a part of web portal, www.jainsamj.org, the first and only Internet news-letter, being hosted from New Delhi for the last seven years and representing entire Jain community at a global level, O.K. Jain from Udti Khabar from Delhi, Pravin Jain from Arihant Shiksha Times, Delhi, Narendra Jain from Swantantra Jain Chintan, Ajmer, Akhil Bansal from Samanvaya Vani, Jaipur, Navnit Jain from Sammedanchal, Meerut and Piyush Jain from sandhya Times, Delhi. Shri Moti Lal Bafna, General secretary conducted the proceedings of the conference and proposed a vote of thanks.
LECTURE BY SAMANI PRASANNA PRAGYA JI AT BERLIN UNIVERSITY ON RELEVANCE OF JAINISM IN 21ST CENTURY - Samani Prasanna Pragya Ji belonging to Swetambar Terapanth sect spoke at a seminar in Berlin University on 13th June, 2007 on the subject of 'relevance of Jainism as a religion in 21st century'. She said, the growth of scientific knowledge and outlook has destroyed our superstitions and false dogmas. But unfortunately and surprisingly it has shaken our faith in spiritual and human values. Today we know more about the atom and atomic forces than the values needed for a meaningful and peaceful life. Nowadays, due to tremendous advancement of science and technology, we have efficient means of transportation. Physical distance is no bar to meeting people of different nationalities, cultures and religions, and consequently we have come closer and more dependent on each other as we were never before. Our world is shrinking but unluckily, the distance between our hearts is increasing day by day.
JAINA DELEGATION ATTENDS JAIN MANUSCRIPTS LAUNCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE The delegation to Buckingham Palace, London was led by Jaina President Kirit C. Daftary, joined by Director at Large, Arvin Shah and VRG Committee member Prakash Mody and others. Over 300 attendees from around the globe had gathered to attend launching of the Catalogue of the Jain Manuscripts of The British Library by His Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh. The project and the Catalogue is published by the Institute of Jainology, London and printed by the Mumbai Branch. The Institute recognized Professor Balbir, the Sheths from India and also posthumously Professor Tripathi.
Dr. Nalini Balbir, Professor from University of Paris headed the project of cataloging Jain Manuscripts of Royal Library. It included manuscripts from the British Library, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Jain manuscripts kept there came not only from British sources, but also from German, Austrian and Indian scholars who felt it was the best and safest place to keep them.
Dr. Balbir said, "In our days of advanced technology, this kind of work is relevant not only for the sake of preservation, but also for understanding how social networks worked in the past. Copying a manuscript is a sort of collective undertaking, which implies not only the scribe, but individuals, joint families, local groups, and so forth who acted as sponsors. Jain manuscripts usually provide a wealth of information of this kind, which we have tried to investigate." The work which started in 1994 by Professor Tripathi was completed in 2005. The manuscripts date as far back as 1201 AD, are mostly on paper and palm leaf, in the pothi format i.e. where the length is greater than the width. The catalogue contains information from 1083 manuscripts.
Catalogues of manuscripts are of the utmost significance as it is the only source to verify by comparison any inaccuracies with the current printed scriptures. The result of cataloguing is in the form of three volumes which include
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