Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1915 Book 11 Jain Itihas Sahitya Ank

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

Page 53

The Date of Siddharshi.
259
Bonn, 2nd February 1906.
Neibuhrstrasse 59. Dear Sir,
I am glad to to learn from your kind letter, that the project of a Jain-Central-Book-Depot is likely to meet with a favourable consideration by the Congress. Various Jain communities have done much towards the publication of Jain literature, sacred and classical; but as the printed books are as a rule, to be had only from the publishing Society or firm, or at consiаerable cost and risk through a bookseller, it is difficult to get them, not only for scholars in Europe and America, but also in distant parts of India. Now this difficulty would be removed, if a Central Book Depot were established in Bombay or some other town, in which a certain number of copies of all Jain books should be kept on stock. The Manager. entrusted with the care of the Depot, should deliver the books, ordered at fixed prices, or if the book is not on stock, he should procure it from the publisher and send it to the applicant. The book Depot should be conducted on strict business-principles, but not with a view to pecuniary profit. For the principal aim of such an institution under protectorate of the Congress, should be to promote the union of all Jains and to diffuse the knowledge of their literature.
These are some ideas on the subject, which I submit to your consideration and to the discussion by your friends.
Yours sincerely HERMANN JACOBI.
Bhavnagar, 19th October 1906. DEAR SIR,
Long since I address you. The last letter I wrote was dated the 30th December 1905. Since then I received two letters on extraneous matters from you, but as yet I have not received your views on the argumentative and historical part of that letter. In order to avoid any further letter and