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Jainology and Prakrit in the University of Mysore (Karnataka). He was an eminent research scholar of international repute. He has contributed not less than a century of original and learned research papers to various Oriental Journals. He has also edited and published more than 25 ancient scriptures with comparative studies of different manuscripts and with erudite introductions. He was the chief Indian delegate representing jainism to the World Conference of Religions and Peace held in 1974 at Leuven in Belgium. Even amidst his busy schedule of work, he was kind enough to spare his valuable time to go through the manuscript and make very useful suggestions including an appropriate title to the book : “Compendium of Jainism.” He has also graced this book with an invaluable and generous foreword.
I sent the original manuscript of the book to the Sardar Patel University in May 1975 hoping that the book would be published during the 2500th year of Nirvāņa of Bhagavān Mahāvīra; but the book saw the light of the day only in 1978 as the Rules of Trust required the book to be published in Gujarathi only, after being translated into that language.
I was keen that the book in its English text was published by some other University. Hence, I requested Dr. R. C. Hiremath, the then Vice-Chuncellor of the Karnatak University, Dharwad, to consider if his University could undertake publication of the book in English. He readily accepted my request. I am grateful to him for his kindness and to his successor in that office Shri S. S. Wodeyar for evincing continued interest in its publication. I offer my sincere thanks to Sri Chennaveera Kanavi, Director of Prasaranga of the University, not only for his prompt and efficient execution of the work but also for relieving me from the labour of correcting proofs to avoid delay in printing and publication. I have no words to thank Prof. G. Mahadevappa who voluntarily undertook to correct the proof, as a labour of love which is indeed a favour to me.
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