Jain Journal 1968 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 27

JANUARY, 1968
In 1933, he was appointed Professor of Jaina Philosophy in the Benaras Hindu University and continued to work in that post for over ten years during which he inspired and guided many a scholar who made valuable contribution to Oriental studies in general and Jaina studies in particular.
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After retirement from the Benaras Hindu University, he has been living in Ahmedabad. Even when retired, he is not tired of helping scholars who come to him for suggestions and guidance in their research works. He always has around him an environment of learning and scholarship and when such a living light exists in our midst, where else shall one go to get light on Jaina Philosophy. In the words of Prof. Dr. A. N. Upadhye who was the General President of the AllIndia Oriental Conference last year, "Pandit Sukhlalji is one of the living authorities on Jainism. His studies in Jainism are all along carried on in the broad perspective of the Indian pattern of thought and learning. The realm of knowledge for him recognises no religious, racial, temporal and geographical barriers; and the human thought-process, as he understands it, is a continuous and connected flow...Panditji is a light of learning which enkindles your thinking power; wherever he stays, he creates round him atmosphere of study and progressive thinking." This writer has himself always felt this atmosphere whenever he has visited Panditji. The writer has been inspired by this atmosphere. Panditji is blind physically, but is ever vigilant and alert mentally. He, without eyes, sees a lot more than those who have eyes to see. Both as a man and a scholar, he has influenced his age. Dr. T.R.V. Murti has rightly said, "Panditji has dominated the world of of Indian Philosophy and religion for the last forty years and more by his deep scholarship and noble personality."
In 1957 he was felicitated in Bombay by an All-India Committee formed for the purpose. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, while presiding on this occasion, had eulogised the great scholarship of Panditji. He was awarded the same year a Doctorate (Honoris Causa) by the Gujarat University. On December 15, 1967 the Degree of D. Litt (Honoris Causa) has been conferred on him by the Sardar Patel University of Ballav Vidyanagar, Gujarat.
Even today when he is physically not quite fit, Panditji is fully alive to the problems we are facing in the country and his visitors know how deeply and constructively he reacts to these problems.
He has translated, edited and written nearly 25 books-the most important among which are-Siddhsena Divakar's 'Sanmati Tarka',