Jinamanjari 1999 09 No 20

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 73

Jinamañjari, Volume 20, No.2, October 1999
NEWS DIGEST
ENCYCLOPEDIA JAINICA PROJECT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT NEMAWAR SIDDHAKŞETRA IN MADHYA PRADESH,
The Encyclopedia Jainica Workshop, which was organized by Jain Vidyāsansthana at Nemawar on 22 April 1999, was held in presence of Ācārya Vidyasāgarji. The workshop was opened by Mr. Ajit Kumar Kasliwala of Indore, and Moolchand Lohadia and Ratanlal Benadi of Agra outlined the scope and importance of the Encyclopedia Jainica Project. Dr. V.P. Jain, Project Co-ordinator, gave a detailed account of the task that lies ahead when he noted that project must be carefully addressed with the administrative and technical skills so that Encyclopedia Jainica would meet with international academic standards. He also announced that Encyclopedia Jainica will be brought out in two languages, English and Hindi, as well as in a multimedia CD ROM format.
The Workshop was attended by a large number of scholars such as: Drs. Bhagchndra Bhaskar, Kusum Patoria, Pushpalata Jain of Nagpur; Dr. Shitalchandra Jain of Jaipur; Drs. Ratanchand Jain, Jinendra Kumar Jain and S.K. Jain of Bhopal; Dr. Nandalal Jain of Rewa,; Pandit Shivcharan Lal Sastri of Mynapuri; Dr. Phoolchand Premi of Varanasi; Dr. Narendra Kumar Jain of Sravasti; Dr. Anupam Jain of Indore; Drs. Abhay Prakash Jain and Devendra Kumar Jain of Gwalior; Mr. Virendra Prasad Jain of Aliganj; Dr. Vrasabh Prasad Jain, Sandhya Jain, Patrika Jain, Avakash Sinha and Pavan Kumar of Lucknow.
Acārya Vidyasāgarji -- under whose initiation and spiritual direction Encyclopedia Jainica is taking shape -- gave a short discourse on the importance of the project. He also gave benediction to the assembled scholars and declared that the project Encyclopedia Jainica indeed would become an illuminating authority on varied aspects of Jainism. He concluded that Jainism is a religion which encompasses all sentient and insentient beings in the universe, and has an important message of universal hope, peace and happiness for all.
- Pavan Kumar, Asst. to Project Coordinator.
68