Syadwadbhasha

Author(s): Shubhvijay Gani
Publisher: Devchand Lalbhai Pustakoddhar Fund

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strange indeed that these traditions are alive even at this day when there is peace all round, and when the time is most propitious for the developement of literature. Fire even has contributed its quota to the destruction of the records. Add to these the all round degenration among the followers of the faith, when far from the prospects of further expansion, the faith was in imminent danger of being extinct. It was during this time that more attention was paid to the performance of external rites and ceremonies, and practically nothing was done in the direction of education and literature and the sturring up of the inner spirit of faith. It is only very recently that a practical revival of a salutary character is visible. Owing to circumstances above mentioned, the literary results of the arduous labour and the great learning of the Acharayas and Sadhus of the faith, could not be made accessible.
It may perhaps not be out of place here to give in short history of the Fund that has led to the publication of the series. The late Sheth Devchand Lalbhai," in whose memory this fund has been inaugurated, left by his will a sum of Rs. 45,000 along with other sums to be spent in various other matters, to be devoted to some benevolent purpose. This amount was further enhanced by a sum of Rs. 25,000 set apart by " Mr. Gwlabchand Devchand" to be spent in some good purpose in the memory of the said Sheth Devchand Lalbhai. It was on the advice of Puniash Shree Anand Sagar that these sims which made the original funds in Trust, were amalgamated, and the present, Trust was inaugurated. At present the funds of this Turst amount to about Rs. 100,000, the original being further enhanced by the property of "Bai Vichkore," the deceased daughter of the said Sheth Devchand Lalbhai, which was directed to be made over to this Trust by her. The object of this Trust is to devote the interest of the funds for the preservation and the developement of "the Jain Svetamoer religions literature." This is the third volume of the series that is being published by this Trust.
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