Jain Journal 1978 07

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

Page 10

JULY, 1978
At the call of Mahatma Gandhi, he had accepted a professorship at the Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad. Gandhiji was so much impressed with Panditji's dedication to studies that he called him a 'moving Vidyapeeth'. It was during his stay at this Vidyapeeth that Panditji edited 'Sanmati Tarka' jointly with Pandit Bechardasji in six volumes. This work of Panditji was greatly appreciated by several well-known foreign scholars of Jainism including Dr. Herman Jacobi.
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In 1930-31, Gandhiji had given a call to the nation for a countrywide Satyagrah Movement for independence and Panditji, not satisfied with only literary work, wanted to plunge in this movement but Gandhiji dissuaded him from doing so in view of his physical disabilities. Panditji followed his advice and utilised his time during this period in learning the English language. During this very period he also visited Shantiniketan and lived there for nearly three months in close association with Rabindra Nath Tagore. Thereafter in 1933 late Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya invited Panditji to chair the newly started Department of Jain Philosophy at the Banares Hindu University. Panditji accepted this position and worked there until retirement in 1944. During these eleven years, Panditji taught and trained a good number of scholars in studies of Jainism, who are now spread all over India. It was at the Banares Hindu University that this writer, while a student of B.A. Course there in 1934, came in touch with Panditji who inspired and influenced him so profoundly that during the last forty-four years the writer always took him as his guru in all matters, scholastic and otherwise. He was a constant inspirer and adviser to him. He always referred to him for advice even on social and national problems. Panditji was very pragmatic in his outlook. He was among the first ones to welcome the writer's active involvement in the movement for family planning. The writer owes a deep debt of gratitude to Panditji for his valuable advice and guidance in all matters.
After retirement from the Banares Hindu University in 1944, Panditji was offered the Sir Ashutosh Chair of Jain Philosophy at the Calcutta University by its erstwhile Vice-chancellor, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, but he humbly expressed his inability to do so, because he had developed a strong inclination to live in Gujarat.
Accordingly he spent the last thirty-four years of his life at Ahmedabad, where also he created around him an atmosphere of study and progressive thinking. Several young scholars in Ahmedabad and from outside found in Panditji a 'mammoth reference library' for guidance in their research work. He produced a number of able Ph.D's and