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Editor's Note
I feel elated to put in the hands of art lovers, this art book containing Shri Vasudeo Smart's researches, sketches, drawings and copies based on the traditions of Jain art in South Gujarat. At the same time I miss my dear uncle Shri Vasudeo Smart very much. He undertook this work of reserch and copying with great love and interest in 1993-94. He travelled extensively from Amod to Vapi, made copious notes, saw paintings and made sketches, took photographs, wrote articles and prepared with great care two typed books in the end . He was not a historian. He was an artist. His original interest lay in documenting and preserving the great works of Jain art which he found very much on the verge of being lost. Even when he was engaged in this laudable work his approach was basically esthetic. He was inspired not by the art of a religion but by the religion of Art.
Acharya Bhagwant Shri Vijayshilchandrasuriji and Acharya Bhagwant Shri Pradyumnavijaysuriji, holy men of vasi erudition and endowed with great interest and insights in art, saw and praised the valuable work being done by Shri Vasudeo Smart and encouraged him to carry on with it with their kind blessings. It is a matter of great joy that Acharya Bhagwant Shri Vijayshilchandrasuriji expressed his desire to publish this work. One fine morning in 1998 Acharya Shri Vijayshilchandrasuriji graciously visited the studio of Shri Vasudeo Smart at his residence and talked about publishing the work once again. Shri Sevantilal Mehta, one of the leading men of the Jain community in Surat and a man with a very live interest in art, was also present at the meeting. He took up this idea as a challange and thus I had the proud privilege of witnessing a rare occurence that would help preserve in its own small way the rich legacy of the glorious traditions of Jain art.
But before this idea could take a concrete shape Shri Vasudeo Smart suddenly passed away on August 24, 1999. In his letter of condolence, Acharya Shri Shilchandraji reiterated his desire to get the work published and inspired and urged me to get the work complete for the purpose. The Acharyashri was putting up in Suart for the chaturmas in 2001. This happily accelerated the pace of the work. I had the opprtunity of meeting him several times in this connection and have been overwhelmed by his genuine concern for the cause of art and his regard for my uncle and his work.
Jain Kashthapat Chitra : 9
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