Gommatasara Jiva Kanda

Author(s): Nemichandra Siddhant Chakravarti, J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 13

This translation of Gommațasára Jivakanda was made in the rainy season of 1917 at Indore. In 1918, I fell most seriously-ill with influenza and double pneumonia, and only in 1919 it became for the manuscript to begin to be published at the instance of the late lamented Kumar Devendra Prasáda of Arráh, in the Jaina Gazette. Madras. After 79 gáthás had been published, it was decided not to publish it in this periodical fashion, but to print it as a book at once. On 17th April 1921, to the great loss of the cause of publication of Jaina Literature, the young, energetic and talented Kumár died. The work of publication was postponed.
In 1922, I wanted to undertake to publish it myself but I found that the late Kumár had mislaid or lost Gáthás 79 to 250. My health and many official duties forbade a re-translation of the Gáthás myself; therefore under my supervision, I had the work done by kind and obliging friends. Jaina Dharma Bhushana Brahmachári Sital Prasáda did it in 1923 with the help of the brilliant Scholar and Sanskrit Professor Hírá Láll Jain, M.A., LL. B.. of the Government College, Amráotí. The gap in the Ms. being thus filled, it was once more complete. The Devendra Printing Press at Madras was being started by Mr. C. S. Mallináth, the enthusiastic Editor of the Jaina Gazette, and he wanted to publish the Ms. My learned brother Professor A. Chakravartí, M. A., I. E. S. of the Presidency College, Madras, kindly undertook to help Brahmacháríjí if he went to Madras to supervise the publication. This was in 1924. I was ill again from June 1924 to February 1925. On my recovery I took up the question once more. But owing to Antaráya (obstructive) Karma, a serious attack of diabetic Coma prostrated me on almost a death-bed from December 1925. On my return home from Hospital in May 1926 I made up my mind to publish this and my other unpublished Manuscripts, anyhow.
Brahmacháríjí readily, promptly and almost eagerly came up with his generous help of time and trouble. My learned and revered brother Pandit Ajit Prasáda, M. A., LL. B., late Government Pleader of Lucknow, agreed to collaborate. The famous Newal Kishore Press, Lucknow undertook the publication. Thus being equipped with men and munition for this warfare against deadly ignorance and superstition, I bade Brahmachariji Godspeed to Lucknow in July 1926.
When the book was in Press, Brahmachariji got the last Gathás 79 to 250 also from Arrah in August 1926, after such trouble in replacing them in 1922 !