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WRONG ACCOUNT OF JAINISM. 137 invention of the authors. Much and quite baseless has been said at different times against Jainism, but this is quite a new thing History, popular belief and Jaina version convey that the Jainas worship their 24 Jinas or Tirthankaras and not 12 as the authora say.
8 No doubt one sub-sect of the Jainas does so, but the other two do not, hence this is not the general practice, the idea which the words seem to give. The others keep a piece of cloth, folded like a handkerchief in hand, to put in front of their mouth when speaking.
In contradicting the statements of the learned authors we implore their indulgence to please publish an addenda corrigenda to the book to save the students and the general public from forming a wrong idea about this religion the chief aim of writing books. Any other point, which the gentlemen will please refer to us will be gladly explained to them.
Our request is that the book should not be introduced in any school and if already introduced in any school, the headmasters will please discontinue it and that the book should be struck off the list of books prescribed for use in schools, until the authors correct the above statements regarding Jainism.
(Sd.) GOPICHAND, B.A., Vakil, President.
REPLY. [From Sir George Anderson, Kt. C.I.E, M.A., Director of Public Instruction, Punjab, to the Divisional Inspectors of Schools, Punjab, C. M. No. 5256-B, dated the 23rd April, 1925).
Sir, I have the honour to request you to inform the schools, in your division that in the High Roads of Indian History, Book second, published by Messrs. Uttarchand Kapur & Sons, which was recommended as a supplementary reader for use in schools vide my Circular No. 1/2878-B, dated the 27th February, 1925, the Chapter on the “Founder of Jainism" (pages 12-15) should not form part of the school teaching as it contains passages to which objection has been taken by the Jains. The publishers have been asked to revise the Chapter and submit the same to the Text Book Committee for consideration before its incorporation in the next edition.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
