________________
2,00,000/- to the University of Udaipur for the said purpose through its convenor Shri Himmat Singh Saruparia, Udaipur.
Since I developed a love for Prākrta and Jaina studies, I was asked to select Gāthās of Prāksta from the original sources for the preparation of the central book of Jainism, known as Samanasuttam. Because I showed interest in this venture, I was invited to attend the conference in Delhi. I was accommodated in Ahimsa Mandir, Daryaganj. Fortunately Dr. Upadhye, Pt. Kailashchandji, Sri Jinendra Varniji etc. were also staying there. I had an occasion to meet these celebrated scholars in person and could hear their views about the central book of Jainism. My humble contribution has been recorded in the Samaņasuttam on Page 4.
After my retirement from the University of Udaipur as a Prof. of Philosophy in the Deptt. of Philosophy, I came to Jaipur, my home-town and persuaded the trustees of Digambara Jaina Atisaya Ksetra Sri Mahaviraji to establish “Apabhramsa Sahitya Academy' and fortunately they acceded to my request and the academy was started in 1988. I was supported in this regard by Acarya Vidyanandji Muniraja. In this Academy correspondence courses for learning Apabhramsa and Prākrta have been started. These correspondence courses have been started for the first time in this country and abroad. I was selected for “Acarya Kundakunda Award' which was offered to me on 3 Nov., 1996. The money of this award was donated to the Digambara Jaina Atisaya Ksetra Sri Mahaviraji of which I am at present one of the trustees. Along with the initiation of many academic awards for the students of correspondence courses, ‘Dr. A. N. Upadhye award' was introduced in Dec. 1996 for the best article in the 'Apabhramsa Bharati' published by the ‘Apabhramsa Sahitya Academy', Jaipur. This is due
Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays
203
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org