Jain Journal 1973 01

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

Page 11

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JAIN JOURNAL
man of his temperament constantly wanted to return to scholastic life. After leaving All India Radio, Dr. Sen held teaching assignments in various colleges and became Principal of Khagaria College, (Monghyr, Bihar) and returned to Calcutta in 1948 and taught German Language in Calcutta University, before going to Delhi as the first editor of Indo-Asian Culture--the Journal of Indian Council of Cultural Relations. After returning from Delhi, he devoted all his time in writing and published many books : “Buddha Kathā”, “Ašoka Lipi”, “Rājagļha and Nālandā”, “Avijñāna Sakuntal”, “Kālidāser Meghdut”, “Itihās Carcar Vaijñānik Pranāli”, “Hindu Avatārs”, etc., his most controversial publication “Itihāser Sri Caitanya” was proscribed by the Governments of West Bengal and Orissa.
Last recognition of Dr. Sen's intellect came from the publisher of Encyclopaedia Britannica when Dr. Sen became a contributing editor by writing on “Asoka" in the 20th edition in the press).
Dr. Sen's association with this Journal started in a rather interesting way. It was on a point of discussion about certain observations made by Dr. Sen in his Bengali booklet on Jainism printed by Visvabharati, the editor of this Journal called on him one day, and that meeting was so intimate and cordial that it took a turn on that very day into a friendship which lasted till the end. From very close quarters, the editor could observe that Dr. Sen's was a very critical and analytical mind which was never awed, and it was this that often brought him into a straight clash with the orthodoxy. But those who came in close contact with him had a realisation not only of his deep-rooted scholarship, but also of his great catholicity of mind. We recall, when a special issue of this Journal on the late Dr. Schubring was brought out a few years back, Dr. Sen was not only a constant source of inspiration who placed us in touch with scholars of Jainology in Germany, but, despite an ailing health, he took the trouble of writing a valuable paper for that issue. The editor recalls the free access that he had to him and the kindness with which he always responded. Perhaps the last of his writings, a review of some books on Jainology was printed in this Journal (October 1972 issue) only sometime before his death. He passed away from this world of mortal beings on December 10, after having lived for worthily 73 years.
May his great soul be liberated from and Rebirth !
the misery of Karma