International Journal Of Jaina Studies Vol 01 To 03 2005 To 2007

SR No.: 022773
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Peter Flugel
Publisher: Hindi Granth Karyalay
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 202
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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in Europe and North America experienced, for a while, a reverse process. Research on Hemacandra's work and the Svetämbara scriptures flourished in small academic circles, particularly in Germany, from 1865 onwards." Jain education started in the U.K. and the U.S.A. due to the presence of three prominent Jain lawyers who studied, at different times, in London at the Bar, and for various reasons returned frequently from India to Britain and visited Europe and the U.S.A.: C. R. Jain (1867-1942) 1892-7, 1925-6, 19303. V. R. Gandhi (1865-1901) 1894-5, 1896-1901, and J. L. Jaini (1881-1927) 1906-9 and 1913. As ardent Jains, the three lawyers were interested in spreading the knowledge of Jainism in the West and co-founded Jain study circles and learned societies for interested. Europeans such as F. W. Thomas, the Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford, or Herbert Warren. In 1909, J. L. Jaini created the Jain Literature Society in London together with F. W. Thomas and H. Warren, and in 1913 the Mahavira Brotherhood or Universal Fraternity with H. Warren, J. H. Dunn, A. & E. Gordon, D. Sainter, R. Wightman, and others. In 19.30, the Rishabh Jain Lending Library was established by C. R. Jain and others in North London, where it was maintained at different places until 1946. The World Jaina Mission. finally, was founded in 1949, also in London, by M. McKay, W. H. Talbot, F. Mansell, and Mrs. K. P. Jain.28 The character of these societies, whose Mahāvīra Jayanti meetings attracted between 30-100 participants, resembled the Theosophical Societies and it would not be out place to call their members Jain Theosophists'. They were educated. professionals, vegetarians, and greatly influenced by the international peace movement during the period of the great wars, but less so by the interfaith movements such as the World's Parliament of Religions, since most members were disillusioned both with organised religion which they sought to transcend by finding a more fundamental spiritual dimension and with the materialism which came to dominate the world.
Due to the lack of interest amongst the Jains in India, the project of a World Jain Mission, which was also promoted by The Voice of Ahinsa (Delhi 1949), was abandoned. after the death of Herbert Warren (1866-1954), and apart from isolated research work of renowned scholars such as A. L. Basham, J. D. M. Derrett, P. S. Jaini, and R. Williams at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, few Jain related educational activities can be noted in Britain or elsewhere outside India before the
27See Schubring 1935/ 2000: 3, Alsdorf 1965.
Anonymous 1926, Gordon 1931, Anonymous 1949, Anonymous 1958.
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