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OBITUARY
Johari Malji Parekh, a great Jaina scholar who dedicated his whole life for the development of Jaina literature passed away suddenly on 5th February, 1996. He was an institution by himself devoting every bit of his time to religious piety and learning. A Gold Medalist Chartered Accountant by profession, he renounced his position and comforts and adopted austere life. He devoted nearly thirty years of his life fruitfully to the cause of Jaina community, especially, preservation of Jaina literature. He established a modest institute Sevamandir at Ravati (Jodhpur) and continued his crusade for restoring the Jaina studies in their proper place on the academic scenario. He was associated with almost all the Jaina organisations / institutions and was equally honoured by all the sects. He appealed to the entire Jaina community to come forward and contribute for preserving its rich spiritual heritage.
An outstanding contribution of Johari Malji was the publication of catalogues of manuscripts contained in the Jaina Bhandaras of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
Apart from his unparalleled dedication to the Jaina literature as well as Jaina education he was a great Sadhaka himself, who lived an extremely plain and simple life. The Jaina community will suffer an irreparable loss by the sad demise of this living legend of self control. He will be remembered not only by the Jaina community but by the entire society.
Parshvanath Vidyapeeth mourns the death of this great ; its personal loss. May his soul rest in peace.
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