Higher Education and Research in Prakrits and Jainology

Author(s): Gokulchandra Jain
Publisher: Sampurnanda Vishva Vidyalaya Varanasi

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scholarship of studying classical languages as a whole decreased, and as a result the study of Pali and Prakrit suffered a great setback.
Now when the scope of higher studies and research in many other areas of Indology has almost exhausted for free hand work, the attention of scholars and students is again diverted towards Prakrits and Jainological studies. They find a milch-cow in it. Even a little effort in any branch of these studies is found sufficient for a doctoral dissertation. A scholar working on any branch of Prakrits or Jainology earns a feather to his cap without taking much pain for intensive study.
Survey of Jainological Studies
The first survey of Jainological studies as an independent faculty appears to be the one by A. Guerinot 'Essai De Bibliography Jaina' (Paris 1906). C. L. Jain's 'Jaina Bibliography' was published in 1945 (first edition Calcutta, revised edition Delhi, 1982).
From the bibliographical point of Jainological Manuscripts Jinaratna-koś' by H. D. Velankar (Poona 1944) has proved to be of immense importance. A good number of catalogues have appeared in years following.
Information regarding published Jaina literature is not confined to the books on the History of Jaina Literature. In addition, many booklets, brochures and literary studies also provide important related materials.
With the increasing interest in the studies of Prakrits and Jainology, particularly for doctoral dissertations, the need of above bibliographies increased. Along with that a list of bibliographical informations of doctoral dissertations already approved and in progress was badly felt. My association with academicians on one side and with students on the other brought for me many such information. Finally when I found it difficult to attend to individual enquiry, I tried to make some survey for the purpose and gradually published the reports.
During last three 'Five-years Plans', I have made more than three surveys of Prakrit and Jainalogical studies, publications and some other aspects related to it. The reports have been published as per details given below,