Jain Spirit 1999 07 No 01

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 10

CHANDANA VIDYA PEETH
know what an art gallery is all about. The fact that they have come here is an achievement really. We are trying to promote awareness amongst people about art." Certainly Mrs. Jayshree Khimasia was in tears when she expressed her gratitude to Meghraj for such a major platform for her art. For details about Gallery events and timetable, telephone 0171-2695500 during office hours. Website: www.meghraj.com
On 3rd April 1999, a grand variety show including dances, plays and music was performed by students of Chandana Vidya Peeth at the Brent Town Hall in North London. Over a thousand Jains attended the celebration of Mahavir Jyanti - it is always special when children get together to celebrate his birthday.
Print by: Jayshree Khimasia
WORLD COUNCIL OF JAIN ACADEMIES LAUNCHED
The World Council of Jain Academies ("WCJA") has been formed by the Jain Academy of the UK and Jain Academy Foundation of North America (JAFNA). The aims and objectives of WCJA are the academic educational activities for the study of Jain culture and society in its traditional and contemporary aspects. The WCJA hopes to involve other Jain institutions world-wide in the academic study of Jainism. It will comprise of four administrative zones: Europe, North America, India and the rest of the world.
As its first activity, the WCJA will sponsor a Jain Studies course at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). University of London that begins from the October 1999 and an annual lecture on Jainism at SOAS on 2nd November 1999. It is also planning: annual lectures at various universities, travelling scholarships, training of Indian scholars in English and presentation skills, and a conference in the year 2000, multimedia presentation projects and the teaching and development of educational materials, including Website projects and distance learning, publication of literature in simplified English, establishment of Jain libraries or the donation of books to various
universities, and a bibliography of Jain books published in European languages. It will co-ordinate and promote various academic institutions in India and overseas, and will make representations to governments and nongovernment organisations.
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact either Dr Natubhai Shah, at the Headquarters and European Office, 20 James Close, London NW11 90X (UK), Tel: (+44 181) 455 5573 Fax: (+44 181) 922 7619 or Dr Premchand Gada at the North American Office, 4410 50th Street Lubbock TX 79414 (USA). Tel: (+1 806) 793 8555 Fax: (+1 806) 793 8556
INDIA
DR. TATIA PASSES AWAY
Dr. Nathmal Tatia, an illustrious and eminent Jain scholar and a living legend in the field of Jain studies, passed away peacefully in a Calcutta hospital in February 1999. He has written and translated many books on Jainism, most recently, the 'Tattvartha Sutra - That Which Is', which was published by Harper Collins and the International Sacred
Literature Trust in 1994. Dr. L.M. Singhvi commented in his foreword to the book: 'Dr. Tatia's translation is at once simple, elegant, authentic, lucid and faithful. The result is a unique contribution to the sacred literature of the world. In 1977 he became Director of the Jain Vishwa Bharti Reseach Center in Rajasthan, where he concentrated his energies on research in Jainism.
6
Jain Spirit. July-September 1999