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During the present generation, there has been a new awakening among enlightened Jaina scholars, bringing to them a new kind of awareness of the Jaina philosophical, spiritual and cultural values in the modern world, transcending the old orthodox outlook of the Jaina Yatis or sages and saints. Most laudable attempts are being made by competent scholars who are perfectly au courant with the modern trends of thought to place the contributions of Jaina thought and learning to the sum-total of human endeavour to unravel the mystery of life and being, as also of Jaina romance and literary excellence, before the ever-increasing number of interested people all over the world who have developed and are developing an international attitude in this matter. They are seeking to do it by means of translations, which are always based on sincere and serious study and research, and of popular writings, not only in Indian languages, but also in English. The enthusiasm which the Jaina world has specially manifested itself now on the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the nirvana of Mahavira, has given a great impetus to this, and attempts are being made everywhere for this.
Kastur Chand Lalwani is a scholar who uses English, and he has already a mass of English writings of the highest excellence on Jaina texts and Jainistics. It will be difficult to find such a wonderful combination of common sense, of a sane approach to religion, with a rationalised love and respect for the Jaina tradition, all on the background of a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the Jaina weltanschauung and Jaina approach to the Reality. His beautifully printed edition of one canonical text, Daśavaikālika Sutra1, with ArdhaMagadhi text, and English translation and commentary, is a scholars' as well as book-lovers' delight. And now we have before us what promises to be his magnum opus when he completes it, the first of the six volumes of Bhagavati Sutra, that huge encyclopaedic treatise, in an equally sumptuous edition-text, a fine translation in beautiful English with a commentary. This is a feast for all-intellectual, artistic and historical, and also, shall I say, spiritual? We can only congratulate ourselves for this fine achievement and offer our grateful thanks to Sri Kastur Chand Lalwani, wishing more power to his elbow, as well as to the Jain Bhawan of Calcutta which has given it out to the world.
-SUNITI KUMAR CHATTERJI
1 Published by Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi.
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