Sri Mahavir Jaina Vidyalaya Golden Jubilee Volume (Review)
Summary
The review of the Sri Mahavir Jaina Vidyalaya Golden Jubilee Volume (parts I and II) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the educational institution founded in Bombay in 1920. The reviewer notes that the commemorative volume not only documents the history of the Vidyalaya and its contributions to Jain education but also assembles research papers on Jain philosophy, literature, history, art and archaeology. The collection is divided into two parts: Part I offers a historical sketch of the Vidyalaya’s formation, its role in training teachers and monks, and its efforts to publish standard Jain texts. Part II gathers scholarly articles by eminent academics and monks. The review appreciates the inclusion of essays on pramāṇa (epistemology), pratyakṣa (perception) and sat‑asat (being and non‑being), which analyse classical Jain theories of knowledge. Studies of literature, such as discussions on the poets Sripala and Bastupala, the Gujarati anthologies of Yati Kanakakusala, and the heroic poem Gorā‑Vāḍal‑Samānī‑Kathā‑Caupāī, reveal the richness of medieval Jain creative writing. Articles on history and archaeology cover topics ranging from Jainism in the Gupta age and early centuries of the Christian era to inscriptions on Mount Śatruñjaya. Art historical essays examine sculptures from Lucknow and the Jain sculptures of Patan and Gujarat. The reviewer praises the volume for documenting Gujarati scholarship but argues that the editors should have summarised Gujarati papers in English to make them more accessible to readers who do not know the language. He also suggests that the miscellaneous papers could have been grouped under philosophical, literary or historical headings to aid navigation. Despite these organisational issues, the review acknowledges the monumental labour of collecting and editing such a diverse range of topics. The reviewer emphasises that the volume will serve as an invaluable reference for researchers interested in the history of education, philosophical debates, poetry and temple art in Jainism. By drawing attention to this publication, the article encourages further translation and dissemination of Jain scholarship, particularly from regional languages like Gujarati.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
This review recognises the Golden Jubilee Volume as a landmark publication that encapsulates both the history of Sri Mahavir Jaina Vidyalaya and contemporary research on Jainism. By gathering essays on epistemology, poetry, history and art, the volume demonstrates the breadth of Jain studies and its integration of philological and archaeological approaches. While the reviewer criticises the lack of English summaries for Gujarati papers and suggests a clearer classification, he nevertheless applauds the editors’ efforts to present so many diverse contributions. The review underscores the value of such compilations in fostering interdisciplinary scholarship and preserving regional research for a global audience.