Dr. Amulya Chandra Sen
Summary
Dr. Amulya Chandra Sen, born on 6th June 1899 in Dibrugarh, Assam, was a scholar whose life and work spanned law, Indology, and Jaina studies. After graduating from Scottish Church College and obtaining a Masters Degree in Ancient Indian History and Culture and a Bachelor of Law from Calcutta University, he practised at Alipur Court before becoming a Research Scholar at Shantiniketan under Mahamahopadhyaya Vidhushekhara Shastri. There, he studied Pali and Prakrit and published research papers on the canonical literature of the Jainas. In July 1933, he received the Deutsche Akademie’s Humboldt Scholarship and went to Germany. He worked under Prof. Schubring and Prof. Ziebarth at the Indological Seminar of Hamburg University, and later with Prof. Heinrich Lüders in Berlin. His doctoral thesis, submitted in May 1935, was a "Critical Examination of the Tenth Ariga called Panhavagaranaim (in Sanskrit Prasna Vyakaranani)". He joined the Oriental Institute, Prague, in July 1936 as a Lecturer and returned to Hamburg in May 1938 to work on unpublished Jaina non-canonical texts and a course on the "Rock Edicts of Asoka". He left Germany in March 1939 due to the gathering clouds of war. In India, Dr. Sen's first assignment was as Director of All India Radio, Dacca, but he soon left to return to scholastic life. He held teaching assignments, became Principal of Khagatia College in Monghyr, Bihar, and taught German Language in Calcutta University in 1948. He then went to Delhi as the first editor of Indo-Asian Culture—the Journal of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. After returning from Delhi, he devoted his time to writing, publishing books such as "Buddha Katha", "Asoka Lipi", "Rajagrha and Nalanda", "Avijiana Sakuntal", "Kalidaser Meghdut", "Itihas Carcar Vaijhanik Pranali", and "Hindy Avatars". His most controversial publication, "Itikaser Sri Caitanya", was proscribed by the Governments of West Bengal and Orissa. He became a contributing editor for the 20th edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica, writing on 'Asoka'. The article notes his critical and analytical mind, which often brought him into conflict with orthodoxy, but also highlights his deep scholarship and great catholicity of mind. He remained a constant source of inspiration for scholars of Jainology, writing a valuable paper for a special issue on the late Dr. Schubring and a review of books on Jainology in the October 1972 issue of the Journal. He passed away on December 10, after having lived for 73 years.
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Conclusion
Dr. Amulya Chandra Sen emerges as a profoundly influential figure in Indology, particularly within Jain studies, whose legacy is defined by his rigorous scholarship and extensive international academic collaborations. His critical examination of canonical and non-canonical Jain texts, notably his doctoral thesis on the *Panhavagarana*, significantly advanced the textual understanding of the tradition. His extensive training in Europe under prominent scholars like Prof. Schubring and Prof. Heinrich Lüders, alongside his mastery of multiple languages including Pali, Prakrit, and European languages, equipped him to bridge Eastern and Western academic traditions. The implications of his work are evident in his prolific authorship, which produced numerous influential books and his controversial, yet significant, contribution to the *Encyclopaedia Britannica*. Ultimately, his significance lies not only in his deep-rooted scholarship and analytical mind but also in his great catholicity, which fostered enduring international connections and inspired future generations of Indologists.