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PRABUDDHA JIVAN
EVENT
Report of the Annual Seminar JAIN ACEDEMY - Mumbai University
on Value based approach, he referred to Bhagvad Gita, drawing his comparison with Jainism, and their importance in Business.
Jain Academy Educational Research Centre, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai, had organized, an Annual Seminar on 6th January 2013, at C.J. Convocation Hall, University of Mumbai, Fort Campus. More than 400 participants including Eminent Businessman, Industiralist, Political leaders, Faculty of Philosophy, and students of Jainology course and other students from the Department of Philosophy, participated in the seminar.
It was indeed for the first time in the history of the Department of Philosophy, that the Jain Academy organized a program, in the heritage structure of the University.
Dr. S. S. Antarkar, Retired Head, Department of Philisophy and Honorary Professor, the Shining Star, one who directed the Center right form its inception in 1995 till 2004, graced the occasion and blessed all.
Dr. Meenal Kartarnikar, Adjunct Reader, Jainology, Department of Philosophy, welcomed the guest. It was indeed a wonderful occasion to felicitate few supporters who always stood beside the Jain Academy. Dr. Bipin Doshi, Chief trustee was overwhelmed to announce the names of those who were being felicitated by Dr. Shubhada Joshi, Head, Department of Philosophy. They were, the youngest (19 years) and the oldest student (84 years) of the present batch, Dr. Nitin Shah, who recently received his Ph. D. and who is also one of the trustees of Jain Academy, The center was indeed privilege to honour the guests' speakers of the day, Shri Vallabh Bhanshali, Industrialist, Dr. Herman Kuhn, German Scholar, who has extensively written on Jainism, Dr. Jitendra Shah, L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad and Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Builder and MLA, Malbar Hill Constituency.
Three students gave their impressions about the course. The course on one hand has a Philosophical and religious base and on other hand the field trips and study tours to Heritage sites is a practical experi
ence.
FEBRUARY 2013
The seminar began with much awaited speech of Shri Vallabha Bhansali. He addresed the audience with his clear and simple oratory on the topic `Business and Jain Ethics'. Out of his own experience and conviction
Thereafter Dr. Herman Kuhn, an Academician from Germany, spoke on topic Indology and it's huge untapped prospects' and mentioned in his speech the need of academic studies of unexplored aspect in Jain philosophy.
Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a Politician, spoke on `Non-violence and its impact on the Indian subcontinent'.
Dr. Jitendra Shah, a stalwart in Jain literary and philosophical study exposed the 'History of Jain Literature, and its importancce and contribution to Indian Culture.
The program ended with speech of Dr. Shubhada Joshi. A Visionary, Dr. Joshi, has credit of setting up in department of Philosophy, 10 certificate courses - Jainism, Buddhism, Yoga, Indian Aesthetics, Communal Harmony and Social Peace and Vedanta. The aim of the courses in to induce a synergy between theory and praxis of philosophy. She also mentioned about the new initiative in exploring the relation between Management and Philosophy and Politics and Philosophy. The Department in this direction has initiated six months training program, in Kautilya's Arthasastra and its application. The participants are youth between age group 25-35 (selected on basisof interview from all over India) and are trained o become good leaders. The whole program is supported by the society as it is free for students. She also mentioned on lines of Kautilya, also known as Chankya, to draw parallels with Jain works Nitivakyamrut of Somadevsuri (9th Century) and Laghuarhaniti by Hemchandracharya (12th century). She blessed all, wishing that this Jain Study Center would become a world Center. In this respect she will be visiting Greece in World Philosophy Congress in August 2013, where a round table has been organized on Jainism and Buddhism. The seminar ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Meenal Katarnikar.
The seminar would not have been successful without support of Coordinators Dr. Kamini Gogri,9819164505, Ms. Shilpa Chheda, Ms. Shruti Sanghvi and Mr. Ashish Pimple.
