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HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
in PRĀKRITS & JAINOLOGY
in the Universities of India
DR. GOKUL CHANDRA JAIN
Introductory
Higher Studies and research in Prākrits and Jainology are attracting scholars and students gradually. The occurrence is a natural process, and is quite consistent to the changing trends in the development of human knowledge, civilization and culture. During about last two centuries studious efforts of a band of scholars, Western and Eastern both, have brought to light the hidden treasures of Prākrits and Jainology, the cultural heritage of immense importance.
Survey reports of ancient manuscripts, epigraphic records, archaeological excavations, philological researches of old, middle and new IndoAryan languages, compartive and cultural studies of religion, Philosophy and allied disciplines in humanities and social sciences, historical survey and many other efforts have brought to light abundant material, informations and plentiful literature written in various Prakrits viz Sauraseni, Māgadhi, Ardhamāgadhi, Mahārāstri, etc., and also in Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, Old Kannaďa, Tamil, Gujarāti, Rājasthāui and so on. Pubicaltion of epigraphical records, archaeological reports, as also those on art, sculptures, architecture etc. have widened the scope. Scholars found a broad area of learning absolutely unexplored.
The first regular notice of Jainism to Western scholars appears to be the one published by Lieut. Wilfred in the Asiatic Researches in 1799, and the contemporary existence of monuments, literature and adherent of Jainism was first brought to light by Col. Colin Mackenzie and Dr. Buchanan Hamilton in 1807, followed by H. T. Colebrooke's 'Observation on the Jainas'.
A host of savants worked in the field, most notable among them are Albrecht Weber, Leumann, Rice, Fleet, Guerinot Wilson, Pischel, Jacobi,
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