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Acknowledgements
It has been my desire for long to place before the wider world of scholars and general readers some important Jaina texts through English which could give a little deeper understanding of Jinistic concepts through logically amenable methodology. Nothing could be a better text than the explanatory of “Tattvārtha Rājavārtika" forming an exhaustive commentary on the first Sanskrta aphorismic sacred text called "Tattvärtha Sūtra' (Aphorismic Treatise on Reals) of Ācā rya Umāsvāti (-mi) of third century A.D. by the eighth century Akalanka-a shining star in the galaxy of Jaina scholars of not only his time but of all times. It was fortunate that the INSA approved my proposal to move in this direction in stages. I have worked sincerely on the first stage of this translation work of chapters 2 and 5 of the text dealing with physical and biological sciences in the field of Jainology by technique of question-answer-type with supposed to be very common terminology . I do not know how far I have been successful in my endeavour. But I have tried to be faithful to the text. Still there might be slips of conceptual or linguistic nature due to my ignorance in the complexity of topics. I hope for suggestions for correcting or improving this and the later stages of the work from the wider readership.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge my grateful thanks for the following persons and institutions who have been helpful to me in different ways and at different stages of this uphill task. I do hope for their affection in my future literary adventures too : 1. Dr. A.K. Bag, History of Science Division, INSA, Delhi-2 2. Dr. Sagarmal Jain, Pārswanātha Vidyāpītha, Varanasi-5 3. Dr. Bhagchand Bhaskar, PārŚwanātha Vidyāpītha, Varanasi-5 4. Pt. Padam Chand Shastri, Delhi 5. Pt. J.M.L. Shastri, Katni (Now late) 6. Dr. R. Moharrir, Principal, Girls College, Rewa (M.P.) 7. Ms. Sheela Goel, Librarian, Girls College, Rewa 8. Shri Megha Kumar Jain, Ambattor, Chenai-53 9. Shri Praduman Zaveri, Plano, TX 10. Secretary, Jaina Society of North Taxas Dallas, TX 11. Smt. Kshama Jain & Mr. Armstrong (family members) 12. Jaina Kendra, Rewa 13. Shri Kamal Pandey, Clerical Staff 14. M/s Chaturbhuj Typing Centre, Rewa 15. M/s Smart Processings, Rewa 16. Many others whose listing may be much longer.
N.L. Jain
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