Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1910 Book 06

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 148

198) 98.518
d Birkacze Geesa
we lacked in sending a further mission to foreign countries whereby our progress in spreading the doctrines of our Lord Mahavira, was arrested prematurely.
However it heing the characteristic of Western people to discover and accept the true knowledge wheresoerer it can be obtained in the world in order to promote their physical, social and spiritual well-being, they have often been demanding our publishing budies for our s.riptures translated into English and I think it is high time for us in orider to answer their requirements to publish a volume or two in English language, the language that has become the language of the world, such as to give an adequate iden of our nuble spiritual possessions.
This will help us, not only in spreading our doctrines in foreign countries, but we shall also be able tu introduce our work in the Indian Universities by frequent appeals to the authorities concerned and get our students, the future herves of our coinmunity, learn the character and doctrines of their own religion. wlany have general impression that the P. A.s and M. A.s of University du not know even the alphabet of their own religion ( exceptious excluded ). Then I think, this proposed task if brought into existence will more or less remove the stain that lies on these Bechalors und Masters of Arts, and the day will be drawing nigh as our Lurd professed, when the Jainism will achieve the highest rank in the world's religions.
It is of course certain that to carry out Mr. Jaini's alive proposal is not so easy as can be suggested on p:ipers or in pulvic meetings. There are many problems frowning at our face. The proposal has to make its way through the prejudices of our orthodox people. They have not moved an inch in handing over the Scriptures that lie decaying in Patan, Jesulnir and some other places. However it is not quite impossible to get their possession if the influential men of those cities are inipressed with the advantages derived through the revealation of Jain literature or if this procedure nieets with failure we must ask them to let us have cupies at our expense and I think, they will not be so stubborn to reject this reasonable request.