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This is, then, the most appropriate perspective for looking at many extremely exquisite wooden pat paintings in a number of Jain temples. Here we offer an art book on the pat paintings found in the temples of South Gujarat i.e. from Vapi to Amod and Bharuch. By a happy stroke of luck, I was present one fine morning, when Acharya Shri Shilchandrasuriji, a great connoisseur of art and the Kala-guru of Gujarat, Shri Vasudeo Smart, happened to discuss the excellences of Jain art. A sad note of deep concern and apprehension could easily be discerned when they started talking about the exquisite wooden pat paintings in the temples of South Gujarat. "Will they be preserved?" -was the question that worried them both. The meeting ended with the germination of a thought : "Let us do somthing to preserve this rich heritage." I talked to my fellow trustees of Shri Sangh. They whole-heartedly welcomed this thought and the result is what you have in your hands now.
Shri Vasudeo Smart was not only a veteran artist but also a man with an enlightened vision and an enthusiast with a missionary zeal. We cannot but express our deep sense of gratitude and pay our homage to Shri Vasudeo Smart, a true gem of Surat and a great connoisseur of Jain art, for his yeoman's services to this noble cause and to the Jain community at large.
For the last three years, Acharya Shri Shilchandrasuriji has made all possible efforts to ensure that the monograph sees the light of the day. Thereby he has helped to present before the world the rich treasures of Jain art that has hitherto remained cloistered in the Jain temples of South Gujarat and hence unknown to the outside world. We are deeply grateful to him for taking us with him in this pious task.
This work is happily completed in the auspicious year of the hundredth Diksha anniversary year of Acharya Shri Bhadrasuriji, with the divine blessings of Acharya Bhagwant Shri Omkarsuriji Maharaj and with loving encouragement from Acharya Shri Yashovijaysuriji.
At this moment, I remember with love Shri Jagdeep Smart for his accomodating considerations.
Zrehaus
(Sevantilal A. Mehta) For the Board of Trustees
Gnanpanchami, 2058, Surat.
2 : Jain Kashthapat Chitra
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