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MEDIEVAL JAINISM : CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
In the Inaugural function of the seminar Dr. G.N. Sharma delivered an scholarly address. The Jainvidya Souvenir was published on this occasion. The Souvenir was released by Dr. Vilas A. Sangve. On this occasion he gave a learned discourse. Dr. Ram Gopal Sharma, ‘Dinesh' Dean, of the College and the Vice-President of the organising committee of the seminar, stressed upon the need of the study of Prakrit language and literature for gaining knowledge of Indian culture. In his presidential address Dr. K.N. Nag, Vice-Chancellor of Sukhadia University, explained several cardinal principles of Jainism and established a close relation between them and preservation of environment. Dr. Prem Suman Jain, the Director and Convenor of the Seminar, acquainted the participants with the organisatory utility and scope etc. of the seminar.
The main subject of the first session of the seminar related to languages, literature and National culture. Several research papers on manuscripts and works in Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Sanskrit were read. The subject of discussion in the second session was history, art and culture of India. In context of national culture salient features of Jain inscriptions, prashasties, sculptures, temples and paintings were brought out. Significance of several aspects of Jain religion and philosophy were expounded in the third session of the seminar. The way of life of Jaina householder and the purification of environment was the subject matter of the fourth and fifth sessions. Non-Violence, Vegetarianism, pure sources of livelihood and other subjects were evaluated in the context of preservation of environment of the world. The papers read in the sixth session of the seminar related to society, science and culture. Thus scholars of the seminar were able to deliberate on almost all the aspects of the role of
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