Jain Journal 2005 07

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

Page 28

SHASHIKANT: AWAKENINGAMONG THE JAINS DURING
29
Early in the 20th century, there was also a growing awareness among the educated Jain youth that Jainism should be properly presented. Thus began the modernist study of the Jain scriptures and religious treatises and other literature. It was also felt that Jainism as a system should be taken due notice by the Western scholars, and translations or explanatory literature should also be published in English so that its merit may be evaluated at par with other systems of Indian religion and philosophy. A series of the Sacred Books of the Jains was published in 1920's-30's. The English Jain Gazette was also brought out during 1904-51.
Side by side reformist movements also emerged and a concerted effort was made to bring out Jain works in print. The social customs were also reviewed and social reforms were introduced by some enlightened men and women in the society. Whoever put up a reformist line of action, was snubbed by the reactionary conservatives who would not look out of their limited horizon.
Among the social organizations may be mentioned the Jain Young Men's Association which was formed towards the close of the 19th century and which wanted to bring all the educated Jains on one platform. A Jain Political Conference was also held in the 2nd decade of the 20th century. The purpose of this conference was to project the importance of the Jain community in the social, economic and political life of India and to impress upon the government to give due weightage to the Jains in services and other official outfits. Local Jain groups were organized under the name of Jain Mitra Mandal in the 1920's30's and of them the Jain Mitra Mandal of Delhi was quite prominent. The major reformist organization among the Digambar Jains was the All India Digambar Jain Parishad which was founded in early 1920's. With a view to acquaint the western world about Jainism and also to provide a sort of social organization for the Jains living abroad, an attempt was made in the form of World Jain Mission in the 1950's.
For systematic study of the Jain scriptures the Syādvāda Vidyālaya was founded in Varanasi early in the 20th century. A Central Jain Oriental Library was established in Arrah for collecting and