Historical Facts About Jainism

Author(s): Lala Lajpatrai
Publisher: Jain Associations of India Mumbai

Page 11

3. This is not only the opinions of the historians but also the popular belief. Jail:s may have different opinion but it is not essential that every historian should bow to their opinion.
4. If I receive a contradiction I shall be glad to publish it in the foot note. But it should be clearly stated if that is thx general belief or of one particular sect.
5. This is also the opinion of several historians.
6. This sentence referred to runs thus:-The chief moral principle of the Jains is non-injury but they have given it so much importance that in the eyes of some it is cowardice to be a Jain. But learned Jairs do not take it to be a sin to fight in a religious war.
It is clear that the above is related to a few persons only and therefore is not so important as Lala Ugarsain thinks it to be. My views regarding the Jain Monks can be known from the following:
Jain Monks are more righteous, more renunciating, selfless and more disinterested wben compared with the Sadhus of all other religions.
7. I would be glad to delete this sentence as I don't think It proper that the whole should be taken to task for the wrongs of the few. This sentence was written by mistake but the sense which can be taken it to mean was not at all before me.
My object was that Jains have gone so far in this principle of non-injury (ahimsa) that they have ignored the rights of the humanity while defending those of the other creatures.
In the end I deem it proper to say also that different histories are being written in the world, some accept them and some do not. It is due right of the latter (and they use it) to criticise the history and put the defects in it before the public and to give also some time for the author to ratify the dis. crepancies. But it is never heared that attempts were ever made to influence the author by undesirably passing resolutions against him. Such behaviour is a bar in the way of independence of thought and a hindrance for the new things to be brought into light. Therefore I wish that you may gladly criticise the defects in my history and I shall gain from it. But I don't think it desirable that a popular community like you should try In re me this er? ... misolutions, which can be attained