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Santiniketan, 16-2-1923 (Birbhum, Bengal)
My dear Upadhyaya,
Ever since I came back to Santiniketan, I have been extre. mely busy with lecturing and class work. Else I should have thanked you before for the kind reception and hospitality I enjoyed in Shivpuri. I shall always remember the beautiful time I had there, and all the highly interesting things you allowed me to see there.
I told the Poet Rabindranath Tagore that you had asked me how much would be wanted for endowing a chair for Jaina religion and literature in Visvabharati. He says, what he was thinking of, was to get some European authority on Jainism to come over to lecture here. Jain students of all parts of India might then come to Santiniketan. One lakh of rupees would be necessary for this. Besides there would have to be a Dharmasala built where Jains could have their meals according to their precepts. In this way a centre for Jaina studies could be created.
I hope you have not forgotten your promise to send me a copy of the photograph taken at our meeting. I should be thankful also, if I could have a copy of the photo taken of the image immediately after the procession and the photo taken of the procession in the bazaar. I should like to much to have these photos not only as a Souvenir for myself, but also for my stu. dents, when I lecture to them on Jaina religion and literature.
On my way back I have met Mr. Nagardas who was on his way to Banaras. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
