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SINGHI JAIN SERIES
XV
Singhiji began to take keen interest in the progress and development of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, seeing that it had at last become the centre of research and literary activities of Shri Munshiji and mine. In his last visit to Bombay he had also expressed to me his sincere desire to come and stay occasionally with us in the building of the Bhavan at Andheri when it is made over to us after the war.
At this time he also expressed with great enthusiasm his generous desire in clear terms as to how increasing progress of the Series can be achieved and how more works can be brought out with added speed. He also told me to make an arrangement, as I wished, regarding as much publication as possible of the works in the Series till I and he were alive, wishing me not to worry at all concerning the expenses. He mentioned that he would not feel satisfied even if the present rate of the publication which is three to four works annually be raised to two works per month. What a noble zeal and a domineering passion for the advancement of learning and literature!
Having been fully reinvigorated by this unequalled enthusiasm and liberality I came to Bombay and was immersed in making plans of a large-scale production of the works in the Series and its extension in pursuance of his eager desire.
details of the Samit was at that time quiistory of Jainism
By the end of 1943 his health began to decline. In the first week of January, 1944, when I went to him at Calcutta in connection with the work of the Bharatiya Itihasa Samiti I found him extremely unwell. Notwithstanding his ill-health he talked to me for more than a couple of hours on the day of my arrival there. The first thing he did in the course of this lengthy, though very sweet talk, was to give me a mild reproof for undertaking the long and tedious journeys to Calcutta, Benares and Cawnpore in spite of my ill health. He discussed with absorbing interest the details of the Samiti's proposed History of India, a subject of great interest to him. I could see that he was at that time quite forgetful of his physical ailments. Our talks then drifted to the subject of the History of Jainism in which connection also he expressed his opinion about the material to be utilised for such a work. At the termination of our talks, which this time lasted for over three hours, I found him much exhausted and drooping in spirits.
On the 7th January his health took a turn for the worse. On the 11th January I went to take leave of him, which he, full of emotions, gave with a heavy heart, exclaiming “Who knows whether we shall meet again or not?" I requested him to take heart and remain buoyant and assured him that he would be soon restored to normal health. But while I was stepping out of his room, my eyes were full of tears and his last words began to eat into my heart. Ill-luck prevented our second meeting. That lofty and generous soul finally left its morta! habitat at mid-day on 71h July, 1944. May his soul rest in peace!
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