Jain Journal 1999 07

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

Page 69

NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD
67
Professor Siddheshwar Prasad, Governor of Tripura, and Mr Nirmal Chandra Jain, Member, Finance Commission, presided over the function.
The Valedictory Function was held on the 13th June 1999. Dr. Balmiki Prasad Singh, I.A.S., Secretary, Ministry of Health, Government of India, was the Chief Guest of Honour. In his Valedictory Address, he emphasized the need for the study of the Prakrit Language and Literature to promote Indian culture. The power of Mahavira's and Buddha's words lies in their message of truth, non-violence and nonpossession. It does not lie in blind faith.
Presiding over the function, Mr. M.C. Joshi, Member-Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Delhi, said that the Prakrit Language was one of the links of the main cultural current of this country, which is dying under the blaze of the English language and western culture. This Institution has been working for more than one decade past for the propagation and preservation of the Prakrit language and literature, which deserves encouragement from all national educational establishments. Otherwise, the Prakrit and Sanskrit languages, the heritage of ancient Indian culture, will die out.
Six prizes of Rs. 2100/-, Rs. 1100/- and Rs. 500/- to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders in the Advanced and Elementary Courses were given to the recipients along with a set of books.
The 4th annual Ācārya Hemacandrasūri Puraşkār of Rs. 51,000/for the year 1998, was presented to Prof. A.M. Ghatage for his outstanding contributions to the Prakrit language and literature by Shri Deven Yashwant on behalf of the Jaswanta Dharmārth Trust. As Prof. Ghatage was indisposed, his son, Shri Atul Ghatage, had received the Prize on his behalf.
The function was attended by Dr. R.C. Tripathi (Secretary- Rajya Sabhā), Prof. Satya Ranjan Banerjee of Calcutta University, Prof. Prem Singh of Delhi University, Prof. Vimal Prakash Jain, Director, BLII, Shri Pratap Bhogilal (Chairman), Shri Narendra Prakash Jain (ViceChairman), Shri Raj Kumar Jain (Secretary, Smarak) and Shri Deven Yashwant (Treasurer, BLII) and many others.