Study of Jainology and International Sanskrit Conference
Summary
Study of Jainology and International Sanskrit Conference Summary: Prem Suman Jain reports on the International Sanskrit Conference held in New Delhi from 26 to 31 March 1972 under the auspices of the Indian Ministry of Education and UNESCO. The five‑day conference was attended by over 100 foreign and 500 Indian delegates, with sessions organised on themes such as Sanskrit and world languages, Sanskrit and world thought and culture, and the contributions of various countries to Sanskrit studies. Jain observes that the Ayurveda seminar and some other sessions were poorly attended but that the overall conference was successful. In the conference’s section on Jainology, seven papers were presented: Dr. A.N. Upadhye examined the relationship between Sanskrit, Prakrits and Apabhramsa; Munshi Sushil Kumar discussed contributions of ancient Jain acaryas; Dr. Dayanand Bhargava spoke on Jain contributions to Sanskrit poetry; Dr. B.J. Sandesara sent papers on Jainism’s contribution to Sanskrit literature and to Gujarati Sanskrit literature; Dr. N.P. Shah analysed the relevance of anekantavada to modern society; Dr. Indra Chandra Shastri explored the ritual of pratikraman; and the author presented a paper on Western India’s contributions to Jaina Sanskrit literature. Additional papers covered the influence of Jain scholars from Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Jain notes that no foreign scholars addressed Jaina Sanskrit texts and that Jainologists often lack contact with foreign Indologists. She calls for an International Conference on Jainology to mark the 2500th nirvana celebration of Mahavira in 1974 and proposes founding a research centre dedicated to Jainology. These recommendations highlight the need for greater cooperation among scholars and institutions to support Jain studies.
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Conclusion
Prem Suman Jain’s report highlights both achievements and shortcomings of the International Sanskrit Conference. The presentations on Jain contributions to Sanskrit indicate growing academic interest, yet the absence of foreign scholarship on Jaina texts and the limited representation of certain regions underscore systemic gaps. Jain’s call for a dedicated Jainology conference and a research centre reflects the urgency of fostering collaborative networks and ensuring that Jain studies remain integral to broader Indological discourse.