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PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
It is really gratifying to note that the first edition of Jaina Community: A Social Survey published in 1959 was received well by Sociologists, Jainologists and Orientalists from India and foreign countries like Germany, Russia, England. America and Japan. This research publication which was the first of its kind on the Sociology of Jainism was recommended by many universities for post-graduate studies in Sociology, was widely quoted by various reputed scholars from different countries, was regarded as a standard reference book on Jainas in India and was greatly helpful in furthering research in the new field of Jainology undertaken by Eastern and Western scholars. As a result the book, within a few years of its publication, became out of print and there was a persistent demand from all quarters to make it available.
Accordingly, the book was completely revised in 1973 and was brought uptodate on the basis of the population data published by the Government of India in their 1971 Census Reports. It was also planned to publish this second revised edition of the book during 1974-75, i. e., during Lord Mahavira's 2500th Nirvana Mahotsava Year. But for several reasons the printing work dragged on. I am happy that at last the work is completed and this second revised edition is now being published.
I am further pleased to find that the second edition of Jaina Community: A Social Survey is being published by the same publishers, viz., Popular Prakashan, Bombay as the second volume in the series entitled "Popular Library of Indian Sociology and Social Thought". I am indeed grateful to Shri Sadanand Bhatkal and Shri Ramdas Bhatkal, Directors of Popular Prakashan, Bombay for the inclusion of this book in this series and for their encouraging and continuous co-operation during the last 25 years.
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