Jaina Epistemology

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Firmly grounded in Sanskrit literature, Oriental Philosophy and learning with a Doctorate from Banaras Hindu University, he had been a student of reputed scholar, Pt. Bal Krishna Mishra and had close association with Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya, the then Vice-Chancellor of the University. His doctoral thesis was adjudged as the best treatise on the subject till then. He received his M.A. in Sanskrit from Agra University, securing first position. He was also Shastracharya in Vedanta (first position) from Banaras Hindu University, Shastri from Punjab and Nyayatirtha from Calcutta.
Along with an original thinker, eminent educationist and reformer, he was also a social activist. In 1940, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's freedom movement, he actively participated in it. In Bikaner in 1942, he organised a small group of four hard-headed youths who looked after passengers at the local railway station, especially coming from Delhi and motivated them to be united and struggle against the British rule. And in the same year he successfully campaigned against the henious practice of 'Bal-Deeksha' (forcible adoption of male and female children of indigent parent in Rajasthan countryside by Jain ascetics). Consequently, a public bill against the evil practice was piloted through the Bikaner State Assembly and was passed. It was a revolutionary step at that time and was appreciated by national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Vijay Laxmi Pandit along with other Jain and non-Jain eminent personalities such as Acharyajin vijya Muni, Pt. Sukhlaji Sanghvi and others. While working as Head, Deptt. of Hindi & Sanskrit, Vaish College, Bhiwani during 1945-48, he addressed students and people and inspired them to rise against the British rule. He also hoisted the national flag and publically made a bonfire of foreign clothes. After partition in 1947, be organised Social Worker Refugee Relief Camp, Group 'o' Bhiwani and also helped them in many other ways.
He launched and edited several reputed journals like 'Bharatiya Sanskriti', was founder-Secretary Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrit Sahitya Sammelan' from 1954-58 and successfully organised All India Oriental Conference (Delhi) in 1958 as Secretary. At that time, he was being sent to Jamaica Uni