तेरापंथ शासन का कार्यकारी हस्ताक्षर महासभा
By मुनि उदितकुमार, मुनि सुमेरमलजी (मंत्रीमुनि)
Summary
The document traces the history of the Jain Bharati magazine, beginning with its predecessor, the Vivaran Patrika, launched in March 1940 by the Terapanth Mahasabha to disseminate news about saints and nuns. Initially a monthly with a subscription fee of two rupees, it quickly gained around nine hundred subscribers due to the lack of other news sources. In April 1948, the magazine was renamed Jain Bharati, and within a year, its circulation rose to eighteen hundred copies. Despite quality content, subscriber numbers fluctuated between one thousand and two thousand, occasionally reaching twenty-five hundred. Financial losses were persistent, leading to a brief closure in 1951, though strong opposition prompted its revival. In 1952, the Vivaran Patrika and Jain Bharati were merged into a single weekly publication with an annual fee of twelve rupees. Over the decades, the magazine faced numerous challenges, including irregular publication and financial strain, yet it maintained high editorial standards. It underwent several editorial changes, with figures like Shrichandji Rampuria serving for many years. In 1989, Jain Bharati was reestablished as a monthly magazine focused on Jain principles, with news shifted to the Terapanth Times. Under the editorship of Mumukshu Dr. Shanta Jain from 1990, the magazine achieved notable recognition, winning first place among 350 Jain publications in a 1993 competition. The document details the magazine's resilience and its role as a platform for scholarly discourse, despite ongoing financial difficulties.
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Conclusion
The document reveals that the "Vivaran Patrika" and later "Jain Bharati" served as crucial communication tools for the Terapanth Mahasabha, successfully connecting members across weak postal networks and rapidly gaining subscribers. However, the publication's history is marked by persistent financial deficits, leading to multiple suspensions and format changes. The decision to split the magazine into separate news and scholarly editions failed to expand readership, as general subscribers preferred the cheaper news version. Despite these challenges, "Jain Bharati" maintained high editorial quality, earning first place in a 1993 competition among 350 Jain publications. The magazine's survival through decades of financial struggle, editorial changes, and logistical difficulties demonstrates its institutional importance, though it never achieved the broad commercial success its founders envisioned.