Prakrit evam Jainvidya Shodh Sandarbha

Author(s): Kapurchand Jain
Publisher: Kailashchandra Jain Smruti Nyas

Page 13

PREFACE There has been an explosive growth in recent times in the published literature on various aspects of Jainism- be it religion, philosophy, history, culture, or art. The computer revolution along with the new printing technology has enabled even a second rate work looks like a first rate work. Absence of peer review mechanism and plethora of easily publishable so called "research journals" have only worsened situation. In view of this it is very important that authentic bibliographical details be compiled and published. This will serve two important purposes - One, it will enable others to know who has done what and where to get it? Two, it will provide very useful guidelines to researchers. This process will eventually weed out the second rate works, which will be buried deep underground with the passage of time, and highlight what is good and authentic
The present volume on "Bibliography of Prakrit and Jain Research" more than adequately serves both these purposes. This is the third revised edition of the single handed effort initiated by Dr. Kapoor Chand Jain in 1988. Dr. Jain has compiled a list of about 450 Ph.D. theses at that time UGC project. He has also been able to collect about 240 theses in his collection for the "Prakrit and Jainological Thesis Library”. The first edition had a bibliographical collection of 600 Indian and 45 foreign theses. A supplement was also published in 1993 wherein 145 theses were added. These publications had run out of print since many years and a new edition was, therefore, planned. The present volume incorporates about 1100 Indian theses and 131 foreign theses. This is almost double of the earlier work.
The learned author has taken great pains to include only authentic material, rejecting a large number of incomplete/doubtful cases. The present volume also presents a list of potential topics for future researchers; this list is quite exhaustive and includes very useful and new areas of research. I hope that interested researches will make use of it and avoid repetition, which seems to be very common so far.
Dr. Kapoor Chand Jain has indicated that he also plans to undertake similar work on research publications/books which are not related to any degree programme. This is a very welcome idea and will further help the researchers not only in India but abroad also. I am sure his efforts will make a positive impact on the present and future researchers in other areas also. I profusely congratulate Dr. Jain on his efforts and also his wife Dr. Jyoti Jain for continuous support in his endeavors. We all continue to look forward to many such publications from him.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Jain (Professor of Physics, IIT Roorkee)