JI
Aryan Culture
Jinamanjari
Vol. 19 · No. 01
Articles
JJ
Aryan Culture
Jain Journal A Quarterly on Jainology
Vol. 21 · No. 2
Jain Journal A Quarterly on Jainology
A Demographic Analysis on Jains in India
Oct - 1986Vol. 21 · No. 2pp. 33–50
Dr.
Dr. Mahendra Kumar Jain was a distinguished Indian-American biochemist and professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Delaware. Born on October 12, 1938, in Ujjain, India, he was the eldest of ten children. He completed his B.Sc. at Holkar College in Indore (1957) and his M.Sc. at Vikram University in Ujjain (1959). From 1959 to 1964, he served as a lecturer for the government of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal, India, and later at Punjabi University in Patiala. During this period, he published 16 articles on the extraction and identification of natural products from various plant species. In 1965, Dr. Jain moved to Israel to pursue a Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute, completing it in under two years. He then joined Indiana University in Bloomington as a research associate in the laboratory of Professor Eugene H. Cordes, focusing on the chemical structure determination of terpenoid natural products. In 1973, he joined the University of Delaware as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He was promoted to associate professor in 1975 and to full professor in 1981. Dr. Jain retired in 2009 and continued his research as an emeritus faculty member until 2015. He passed away on September 22, 2017, at the age of 78. Dr. Jain's research primarily focused on phospholipase A2, a calcium-dependent enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of fatty acids from phospholipids, which plays a crucial role in inflammation and other biological processes. He introduced the concepts of "scooting" and "hopping" to describe the behavior of membrane-bound enzymes in two-dimensional matrices. He also co-authored a textbook titled "Introduction to Biological Membranes" in 1980. Throughout his career, he published over 200 articles and collaborated with numerous scientists worldwide. Beyond his scientific endeavors, Dr. Jain was a scholar of ancient Jain philosophy, particularly interested in concepts of perception and doubt. He translated and interpreted ancient Jain texts and supported the digitization of old manuscripts. He also founded and financed a primary school in Sadhumar, India, and supported the construction of a hostel at an all-girls school in Rajasthan. Additionally, he anonymously funded the college education of several underprivileged students. Dr. Jain was known for his humility, generosity, and dedication to both his scientific work and his community. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed cooking, and had a deep appreciation for nature. His contributions to science and society have left a lasting impact.
Jain Journal A Quarterly on Jainology
Vol. 21 · No. 2