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I
So far, with reference to social life, no scholar has utilised the material 1eflected in the Jain canons. In the present work I have made an attempt to include all such available material for the first time acknowledge that in preparing this work I was, undoubtedly, guided by other scholars, who have been working in the field in the past Particular mention may be made here of the Cheda Sutras, which, although forming a part of the Jain canonical literature, yet remained hitherto unstudied. This literature is really very important from the point of view of social history of the ancient Indian people. In these Sutras we come across various customs and usages prevalent in different parts of India, the study of which will be certainly helpful in writing the history of the development of the Jain ascetic order.
I am indebted to all the authors whose works I have utilised in the present work, and I would like to make special mention of Mr. Ratılal Mehta's Pre-Buddhist India which I have freely referred to.
While I was writing this thesis I had the good fortune to receive the able guidance of Dr G. S. Ghurye, M A., Ph D., Head of the Department of Sociology, the School of Economics and Sociology, University of Bombay. I am grateful to him for his assistance.
I cannot adequately thank Dr. Motichand, M.A., Ph.D., the Curator of the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, for helping me in preparing this thesis. But for his valuable aid I would not have been able to complete my work. Dr. Motichand even went through the major portion of my manuscript before it was sent to the press. I particularly appreciate his endeavours to assist me despite the numerous calls on his time and I cannot easily forget his kindness. Dr Vasudeva Sharan Agrawala, M.A., Ph D., the Curator of the Central Museum, New Delhi, read over the geographical section of my book, for which I am grateful to him
My sincere thanks are also due to Prof. F. D'Souza, M A., Professor of English, Siddhartha College, Bombay, Prof B. Miranda, M A., Professor of English, Ramnarain Ruia College, Bombay, and Professor L Rodrigues, MA, Head of the Department of English, Siddhartha College, Bombay, for assisting me in reading the proofs and making useful suggestions.
I must also thank Sahu Shriyans Prasadji Jain, Director of the Dalmia Cement Co., Ltd., Bombay, and Shri Harikrishnadasji Jain, Contractor, Bombay, for the help they gave me, and my daughter Chakresh for preparing the Index.
