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Book-Review
1. Title : Jainthology, Editor : Ganesh Lalwani Publisher : Jain Bhawan, P-25 Kalakar Street, Calcutta-7, July 1991, Price : Rs. 100 Pages : 240.
The editor says that purification of self is ascent of man by conquering his lower self and it is the story of Jainism as well. He has tried to retell this story through some 25 articles from the past issues of his Journal.
The Jainthology, in other words, is a collection of twenty-five articles selected from the past issues of the Jain Journal as a mark of the completion of the 25th year of its existence.
The articles of the volume are manifold. It embraces the basic problems on history and prehistory of mankind in relation to Jain Canons such as Evolution of Mankined as depicted in the Jain Āgamas; The Indus Valley civilisation and RŞabha and Antiquity of Bhārata War etc. It describes in a succinct manner the doctrine of ahissa and the karma theory of Jains.
The articles published here are of high standard and indicate a deep understanding of the subject and therefore have still some value. But as the research advances, new facts unveil and hidden proofs have been understood, new dimensions open and the subjects take a new shape. I think the editor wants to stimulate and encourage the researchers to go deep in the subjects of his choice. So he circulated a bunch of 25 articles he already published in the past issues of the Jain Journal. Generally, most of the Silver Jubilee Volumes are published on the basis of the fresh and new articles from some present scholars of the subject. So, I don't think this an excellent idea, but there is no harm in repeating for the cause mentioned above.
The printing is nice and free from mistakes and that is one of the solemn qualities of this Journal. Shri Ganesh Lalwani, who is devoted to the cause of Jainism, is doing good work and his Jain Journal in general and this Jainthology in particular is a paramount source for the study of Jain religion, philosophy and historical gleanings
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