Lecture on Jainism

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: University of Delhi

Page 9

PREFACE
It was my proud privilege as the Acting Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies, to have arranged two lectures on Jainism (more precisely Jinism) by such an eminent historian as Professor GC Pande, Vice-Chancellor, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, on the 3rd and the 4th February, 1977 These lectures were held under the auspices of Shri Raj Krishen Jain Memorial Lectures Committee, University of Delhi, Delhi. The lectures entitled 'The Jain Ethical Tradition and Its Relevance' and “The Jain Conception of Knowledge and Reality and Its Relevance To Scientific Thought were well attended and highly appreciated by the newly and fast emerging Indological circles of Delhi/ New Delhi Thanks to Shri Prem Chandra Jain, the Trustee of Late Lala Raj Krisben Jain Charitable Trust, Delhi for his benevolence in instituting Annual Lectures on Jainism in our University The Vice-Chancellor, Professor RC Mehrotra had very kindly presided over the first lecture and the Pro-ViceChancellor, Professor UN Singh on the second Professor DS Kothari, the noted scientist and former Chairman of University Grants Commission, was kind enough to bless the lecture series on the first day of the lectures
The lectures are so comprehensive so as to cover all the major aspects of Jainism viz, religion, ethics, metaphysics, ontology and epistemology These lectures, I am sure, will go down in the annals of Jainology as great contributions both for the initiate and the layman in understanding and comprehending the basic tenets of the teachings of Lord Mahāvira, one of the greatest sons of India
June 20, 1977
Sanghaseo Sibgh, Head of the Department of
Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi,
Delhi