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and dedicated himself for the service of the society. He did not care for rest, economic stability or prestige and worked hard for educational, social and religious activities in V.S. 1913, he was elected president of South Maharashtra Sabha. In V.S. 1918, he because ill due too excessive strains and died very peacefully.
Public Life and Works:
Pandit Gopaldasji Baraiya was the foremost torchbearer in Jain community. His public life begins from Mumbai. He established Digambar Jain Samaj in 14 with the help of Pandit Dhannalalji and then in 1897, Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Parikshalaya-i.e. Examination Board of India in unclothed Jain community-was also started and Pandit Gopaldasji himself took up its administration. In 1956, a periodical Jain Mitra was started and it was like a main pillar in the achievements of Pandit Gopaldasji. He started Jain school in Kundalpur with only two-three students and it is not well known as Jain Siddhanta Vidyalaya. This Vidyalaya has given many learned Pandits to Jain community who has taught many great Jain Shastras of Jainism to many students.
Considering his extra-ordinary contribution for the good of the society, the Government had appointed him as Honorary Magistrate of Morena. Then his outstanding services for Jain community and Jainism were also appreciated and the Provincial Council of Bombay, VadiGaj Kesri, awarded him the title of Syadvad Varidhi by the Jain Tattva Prakashini Sabha of Itava and Nyaya Vachaspati by the Sanskrit stalwarts of the Government Sanskrit College of Calcutta. He power of speech was astonishing and it was the main cause of his earning of so many awards. He could speak on any subject of principles continuously for two-three hours. Only highly learned Pandits could understand his lectures. He had been successful at the pleadings and discussions on many subjects but he had no systematic knowledge of Sanskrit and hence he did not enter into discussions with Sanskrit Pandits.
Contribution inLiterature:
Panditji had no much of school or college learning. He did not know grammar completely, he had hardly studied under a teacher and yet by his own efforts, he studied extensively in almost all subjects and was honored as a great Pandit. He was a life-long student in search for knowledge. Since he was teaching the students in Jainism and other subjects, he had studied special and exceptional books so that he can answer the doubts expressed by his students. He was, thus, unparalleled and exceptionally learned man in Logic and Spirituality. His contribution in literature was mainly as under.
He wrote three great books:
1. Jain Siddhanta Darpan
2. Sushila Upanyas and
3. Jain Siddhanta Praveshika.
Jain Siddhanta Darpan is written in only one part and if it was written in all its parts, it would have been most important book in Jainism.
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