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The Jaina Antiquary
Vol. XVII this boy also died very young breaking the heart of his elder brother and leaving behind a widow, Pandita Chandabai, in whom the community found its greatest lady leader of modern times. B. Deokumar was a true patron of art and learning. He patronized various organization instituted for the propagation of these things, was an active patron of the Arrah Nagri Pracharni Sabha, gave scholarships and other subsidies to deserving but poor students of whatever carte or creed. He founded the Central Jaina Oriental Library at Arrah which has one of the best collections of ancient manuscripts and research literature, atleast in the Jaina community, was one of the founders and first Secretary of the Syadvada Maha. vidyalaya, Kasi and donated a suitable building for the same. He was also a founder and one of the early leaders of the Digambra Jain Mahasabha and for some time edited its weekly organ the Hindi Jaina Gazette. He paid visits to many Jaina places of pilgrimage and munificently spent money for the restoration and preservation of ancient monuments in those places. It was again due to his zealous efforts that the Dhaval, Jayadhaval commentries of Digambara Jaina canonical works, which lay buried in the Jaina Matha of Sravan Belagola (Mysore state), saw the light of the day. The preservation and restoration of the old manuscripts, inscriptions and monuments was 180 dear a thing to his heart that while in the full bloom of his youth, he took the difficult vow of perfect celebacy till this work would be completed. When death came, so unexpected and early, the first and the last thing he exhorted his friends to do after him was the same above mentioned work that had ever been his life mission.
A great and noble soul which lived and died with thoughts for the good of others, for the uplift of society and for the propagation of religion and culture, Babu Deokumar made himself immortal. Numerous institutions and organizations, individual scholars, all both Jaina and non- Jaina freely received his active patronage and generous help. And there was hardly any Jaina movement of his time in which he was not an active participant. He is trully one of the real makers of Jaina history in modern times. And we can best pay our homage to his sacred memory by pursuing his path and by helping to serve the cause he so devotedly served all his life
