Jain Journal 1998 07

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

Page 34

NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD
Summer school in Prakrit Language and Literature
The three Week Summer School was inaugurated at the Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology on May 24, 1998. The Valedictory Function was held in the morning of June 14, 1998. The function started with the traditional Jaina namokāra mahāmantra and a Sarasvativandana in Prakrit.
Forty very senior teachers and research scholars in Indian Universities and Colleges, from all over the country, participated in the School, as whole-time students.
Professor S.R. Banerjee from Calcutta University, related in brief the history of activities of the Summer School for the last 10 yearly sessions. Dr (Mrs) Kapila Vatsyayan, Academic Director of the IGNCA was the chief guest, and Hon. Justice M.N. Venkatchaliah, Chairman, NHRC was the guest of honour. Shri Parasmal Bhansali, Chairman, Nakoda Parshvanath Jain Pedhi, presided. Shri Pratap Bhogilal, Chairman, BLII, Shri N.P. Jain, Vice-Chairman, BLII and Shri R.K. Jain, Hony. Secretary, Atma Vallabh Jain Smarak Shikshan Nidhi, all very actively participated in the conduct of the function and introduced different institutions connected with the BLII. Prizes to first three top students in the School were presented along with certificates to all the 40 participants.
Acārya Hemacandrasuri Puraskar was presented on this occasion to the well-known scholar of Prakrit and Sanskrit Studies, Dr. V.M. Kulkarni by Dr (Mrs) Kapila Vatsyayan, the chief guest, on behalf of Nanakchand Jaswanta Dharmarth Trust founded by Shri Deven Yashwant, Chairman.
Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah in his address quoted examples from various well-known personalities of the western world and India to convey the message that whatever we do including small jobs like sweeping, must be done whole-heartedly and excellently. He said, "Indology represents the great Indian civilization which not only speaks of the concepts of cosmology, mind and matter, the circular time and absolute truth but also integrates them all. In order to understand the cultural heritage of this great country, indology is the only way. In this age of diminishing values, objective moral values are very important