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FOREWORD Lord Mahāvira and His Times by Dr. Kailash Chand Jain of the Vikram University (Ujjain)-known for his scholarship, industry and devotion to Jaina studies—is a timely and valuable publication. I offer my congratulations to Dr. Jain. The author has drawn upon an extensive range of material in the preparation of the book. It should be of wide interest.
India's most characteristic and far-reaching contribution to human civilization is, probably, the principle and practice of ahimsā. Lord Mahāvīra stands as its supreme embodiment, personification.
Ahimsā has been always central to man's progress, but at no time its need and relevance has been more than today. Man's very survival in the atomic age depends on science and ahiṁsā. And ahimsā is not, and cannot be, in the very nature of things a static doctrine. On the contrary (like science) it is an exploration where every sincere effort and practice opens new possibilities and new horizons.
In the deeply inspiring words of Mahatma Gandhiwho can speak about ahimsã with greater insight, experience and faith than Gandhiji : "By reason of Life-long practice of ahiṁsā, I claim to be an expert in it, though very imperfect. Speaking in absolute terms, the more I practise it the clearer I see how far I am from the full expression of ahimsa in my life. It is his ignorance of this, the greatest duty of man in the world, which makes him say that in this age, non-violence has little scope in the face of violence, whereas I make bold to say that in this age of the Atom Bomb unadulterated nonviolence is the only force that can confound all the tricks put together of violence."
Dr. Jain's book is a very welcome and significant addition to the literature on Lord Mahāvīra and ahimsā.
D.S. KOTHARI Delhi 22 August 1974
