BARRISTER JUGMANDIR LAL JAIN
(30-4-1881-13-7-1927)
Late Shri J. L. Jaini was born at Saharanpur (U. P.) in a rich Agarwal Jain family. He of the neglected branches of learning like the history of Jainism, Jaina dogmatics and Apabhramsa language and literature Born at Gangai, Distt. Narsingpur (M.P.) Shri Hira Lai graduated from Robertson College, Jabalpur (1916—20) where for his unique distinction in Sanskrit he was awarded Kailashchandra Datta Memorial Medal and Government Scholarship for post-graduate studies.
An M.A., LL.B. of Allahabad University, he got U.P. Government research scholarship (during 1922—25) for securing highest marks in Sanskrit in M.A. examination. He was appointed as Asstt. Professor in King Edward College, Amravati in July, 1925 and transferred to Morris College, Nagpur in July, 1944 where he became Professor and for sometime worked as Principal.
He got D. Litt. degree from Nagpur University in 1944 and retired from Government Educational Service in 1954. During Dec., 1955—Nov., 1960 he worked as Director of Post-graduate and Research Institute of Prakrits and Jainology (Muzaffar- pur). He was Professor and Head of the Deptt. of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit at Jabalpur University during 1961-69 whereafter he finally retired.
Married in 1914, Dr. Hira Lai had one son and five daughters. After the death of his wife Smt. Sonabai in 1938, he devoted most of his time to literary service. His son Shri Prafull Kumar Modi is Principal of Robertson College, Jabalpur.
Literary Works: Completed translation of Gommatsar in English in 1923; compiled and wrote preface of lists of old.scriptures of 3 Shastra Bhandars of Karanja in 1923 (Published by M. P. Government in 1926); wrote introduction of several Prakrit Granthas-published in Allahabad University Journal in 1925;.
Compiled Jain Shila Lekh Vol. 1; edited Jashar Chariu, Naya- kumar Chariu, Karkanda Chariu, Savyadh- amma Doha, Pahuda Doha, Mayanparajaya Chariu, Sugandha Dashmi Katha, Katha Kosu, Sudarsan Chariu (Prakrit), Sudarshan Charit (Sanskrit); wrote Sidhanta Samiksa, Bharatiya Sanskriti Me Jain Dharma Ka Yogdan (publish, ed by M. P. Government), etc.
His most important work was editing of 16 volumes of Satkhandagama Sidhanta during 1936-59. He wrote many learned articles on history, literature and philosophy. Alongwith Dr. A. N. Upadhye, an equally learned scholar, he edited and cooperated in publication of about 150 books published by Bharatiya Jnanpith, Jivraj Granthmala and Manik Chandra Dig. Jain Granthmala.
Dr. Hira Lai kept in touch with a number of Jain institutions and academic bodies. He presided over the Khandwa Session of Dig. Jain Parishad in 1938. Thrice he was elected as President of Prakrit and Jain Tattwa Jnan Branch of All India Oriental Conference held at Varanasi in 1944, Aligarh in 1966 and Jadhavpur in 1970.
Despite indifferent health and medical advice to take complete rest he tried to extract maximum work from himself during the last few years. Such a strain he could not stand for long and a quiet end came to this heroic scholar on March 13, 1973.
