Dr. Jagdishchandra Jain
A distinguished creative writer Dr. Jain is widely known in the country and abroad for his research work and interest in Prakrit, Sanskrit and Hindi.
He did his M.A. in Philosophy from Banaras Hindu University, Shastri in Sanskrit and Ph.D. in Sociology (Ancient Indian History) from Bombay University. He was a research scholar in 1932-33 at Shantiniketan (now Vishwa Bharati University).
He has 30 years of teaching experience in the Ram Narian Ruia College (University of Bombay) as a Professor and Head of the Deptt. of Hindi. He has been a Research Guide in Hindi for Ph. D. students since 1960 and was Professor and Research Guide in 1958-59 in Prakrit and Jainology in Prakrit Jain Institute (Government of Bihar) of postgraduate studies. He was Professor of Hindi in the Department of Languages and Literature in the University of Peking (China) in 1952 53. invited by the University of Kiel (West Germany) Dr. Jain taught there Hindi from 1970 to 1974. There he also worked as Research Professor in Indology. He got University Grants Award under the scheme of Utilisation of Services of Retired Teachers during 1969-70,
Dr. Jain has authored more than 50 books on ancient Indian culture, Indian philosophy, literary criticism, literary biographies, Prakrit studies etc. besides writing numerous research articles and essays for foreign and Indian journals.
During his stay in West Germany Dr. Jain gave lectures on important subjects in Stockholm University (Sweden) and University of London besides universities and institutes in Germany. He read a paper in the International Congress of Orientalists held at Paris.
Dr. Jain visited U.S.S.R. in 1965 as a member of Professors delegation and German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia at the invitations from there.
A few of his important publications are as follows :—
Award Winners
(i) Soviet Roos Pita Ke Patron Men (Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1966)
(ii) Prakrit Sahitya Ka Itihas (prized by U.P. Government in 1961).
Hindi Story Books
Jataka Stories, Hitopadesh Stories, Panchatantra Stories, Do Hazar Baras Purani Kahaniyan (from Prakrit), Prachin Bharat Ki Kahaniyan (from Pali), Bharatiya Kahaniyan (in 5 pts), Ramani Ke Roop (from Prakrit), Treasury of Tales (in English), Books on Ancient Indian History and Culture, Indian Philosophy, Biography, Literary Biography, Literary Criticism, Prakrit Studies etc.
Life In Ancient India as Depicted In Jain Canons (recommended for M.A. course in various Indian Universities), Pashchatya Samiksha Darshan (Western Literary Criticism) (prescribed for M.A. in various Indian Universities), Jain Agam Sahitya Men Bharatiya Samaj, Jain Sahitya Ka Brhad Itihas (Pt. 2), Mahavira Vardhamana, Bharatiya Tattvachin- tana, Sampradayawada, Vishwa Sahitya Ke Jyotipunja, Prakrit Pushkarini, Prakrit Jain Katha Sahitya (Lectures delivered in the L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad).
Translations
Syadwadamanjari (from Sanskrit), Shrimad Rai Chandra (from Gujarati), Vivaha Ka Bandhan (from Marathi), Moksha- mala (from Hindi into English), Tao-te Ching (Path Ka Prabhav) from Chinese into Hindi.
Works in Press
The Vasudevahindi (An authentic Jain version of the Brihatkatha) (This research project was undertaken in 1970 in the University of Kiel), Ancient Indian Tales About Women.
Born on January 20, 1909 Dr. Jain looks cheerful and fit at the age of 66 years.
Residence : 4 Gayatri Nilyam, 28 Shivaji Park, Bombay-28, Ph. 454621.
