Alankar Chintamani

Author(s): Ajitsen Mahakavi, Nemichandra Siddhant Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 11

ALAMKARA CÍNTĀMANI
way. We often travelled together from one end of the country to the other, had Darśana of our Tírtharājas in Bihar and Western India, and attended conferences and meetings in the interest of our studies. As General Editors of this Granthamālā, I had in him an elderly friend and a trusted colleague. It was at my earnest request that he completed the Hindi Translation of the Jasaharacariu, al. ready published in this Series. His Virajiņiņdacariu is still in the press, and it would be completed soon. For some years past, Dr. Hiralalaji was not keeping good health. He had heart trouble, in addition to diabetis. Lately he had undergone an operation for cataract of the second eye. Despite indifferent health and Doctors' advice to take rest, he tried to extract maximum work from himself during the last few years. He believed that life is worth living only if one works purposefully. Such a strain he could not stand for long; and a quiet end came to this heroic scholar on 13th March 1973. Dr. Hiralalaji was a prodigy of learning. His mastery over Jaina Siddhānta was unique. He was versatile in many a branch of Indian learning. What he has achieved in the field of Apabhraṁsa language and literature is of abiding value. The publication of the Satkhaņdāgama, along with the Dhavalā commentary, was indeed a great achievement which bears testimony to his allround scholarship, self--sacrifice, spirit of dedication and unstinted labour. By his sad demise, our joint labours in many literary fields have come to a stop. I will ever cherish the memory of his spirit of co-operation, genial temper and readiness to help and to find solutions under difficult situations. May his Soul rest in Peace !
University of Mysore Manasa Gangotri, Mysore-6 June 25, 1973
A. N. Upadhye