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New Harvard University Jain Studies Center Update
John B. Carman and Dr. John E. Cort of Harvard University's Center for the Study of Word Religions traveled to India in December 1989 and January 1990 in connection with Harvard's proposal to raise four million dollars and one million rupees for a program in Jaina Studies. They met with both monks and leaders of the Jaina community in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Madras, and Ladnun. Everyone was most supportive of the Harvard proposal, and Acharya Tulsi, Yuvacharya Mahaprajna, Acharya Padmasagarsuri, Muni Jambuvija, and Gurudev Chitrabhanu all gave their blessings to the project.
They also visited several Jain research institutes, including the B.L. Institute of Indology in Delhi, the L.D. Institute of Indology and Mahavira Aradhna Kendra in Ahmedabad, Jain Vishva Bharati in Ladnun, and the Research Foundation for Jainology in Madras. They also met with trustees of the P.V. Research Institute of Varanasi.
On the afternoon of January 16, a public meeting was organized in Bombay. The meeting was inaugurated by Gurudev Chitrabhanu, and chaired by Dipchand Gardi. In attendance at the meeting were leaders of the entire Jain community. Professor Carman and Dr. Cort spoke concerning the long history of the comparative study of religion at Harvard, the details of the proposed Harvard Jaina Studies Program, and the specifics of the funds needed to institute the program. It was agreed by everyone present that Dipchand Gardi should head the international effort to raise the funds needed. Mr. Gardi said that he would establish a coordinating committee in India which would then try to establish similar committees among the various Jain communities outside of India to coordinate the fundraising.
An agreement to raise the funds within the following time frame was made: $2 million for the professorship by June 1991, and the remaining $2 million and Rs. 1 million for student scholarships and library endowment within. five years.
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Prof. Carman and Dr. Cort also met with Dr. Nathmal Tatia, the Director of Jain Vishwa Bharati in Ladnun to work out the details for Dr. Tatia's Visiting Professorship at Harvard for Fall semester 1990. Dr. Tatia will teach a special course entitled "Three Traditions of Meditation in India: Patanjali's, Buddhist and Jaina." At Ladnun, plans were discussed for Dr. Gary Tubb, a scholar from Harvard, to visit Ladnun in the summer and fall of 1990 to pursue research on the role of Jain scholars in Sanskrit poetics. This exchange of scholars may be the first step in a long-term program of scholarly exchange between Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions and Jain Vishwa Bharati and other Jaina research institution in India.
Anyone who can help in the efforts to continue Harvard's Jaina Studies Program should contact Dr. Sulekh Jain, President of JAINA.O
Boston Jain Center Hosts Reception For Harvard
JAINA Workshop
March 23, the Boston Jain Center gave
a dinner reception to the participants of the Harvard University's first Jaina workshop. Many Jain scholars from the U.S., U.K, Scotland and Canada doing research on Jainism attended the dinner at the Jain Temple in Boston. Dr. Chander Khasgiwala, president of the Jain Center of Boston, Mr. Dinesh Dalal, Drs. Rajinder Jain, Vinay Jain, Sanjay Shah and many noted Jain leaders and their families welcomed the guests. Dr. Sulekh Jain, president of JAINA, gave an account of Jaina activities and spoke how the Jain community in North America and various scholars on Jainism can work together and benefit mutually. Dr. John Cort and Prof. Carmen from Harvard University gave details of their current and future plans to encourage and expand Jaina studies at Harvard.
Many thanks to the Boston Jain center for hosting this event and making it a worthwhile experience.
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