Jainism’s Contribution to Literature Immense – Hampana

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)


Mangalore, Nov 3: Noted scholar, Prof Hampa Nagarajaiah (Hampana), said that Jain litterateurs have, from time to time, embraced the language of the land they lived in, and always made coordinated efforts to provide new dimensions to the literature in the local language. He analyzed that because of their endeavours to gel with the local culture and language, both Jainism and Jain literature have remained sublime.

He was speaking after presiding over a three-day state level symposium on ‘Jainism, Literature and Culture’ that went under way at the old senate hall of Mangalore University at Mangala Gangotri near here on Tuesday November 2. The symposium is being held under the aegis of Kannada Study Centre of the university and Shrut Samvardhan Samsthan, Meerut.

“We always need to have affection towards Kannada. At the same time, we should remain responsive and receptive to changes, without being averse to them. The language should be open for all and available to everyone. This alone can ensure that newness and changes can be brought in the present literature. About 70 percent of words we use are in fact, Sanskrit words. As these words have become one with Kannada, it is impossible now to distinguish or separate them from our language. Likewise, many English words have become part of our language. We should accept these facts,” he said.

He opined that the contributions of Jain poets like Pampa, Ranna, Janna and Ponna towards enriching Kannada literature and giving a new dimension to it, can never be overlooked.

Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji of Moodbidri Jain Mutt, who was present at the symposium, said that Jainism has always held values like non-violence and other values high. “Jainism has gained popularity and fame because of its strict policy of non-violence. Jain poets have contributed largely for the progress of Kannada and Telugu literature,” he opined.

University vice chancellor, Prof T C Shivashankara Murty, who inaugurated the programme, recalled the invaluable contributions made by Jain poets to Kannada literature. He hailed Jainism as a religion that is firmly seated on the principle of non-violence, not being aggressive, and not looking down upon anyone. He however, expressed his concern at the fact that the religion has of late, not retained the following it did in the past.

University registrar, Dr K Chinnappa Gowda, head of Kannada Study Centre, Prof Sabiha Bhoomi Gowda, and several others were present.

A Feel For Jainism

Jinal Shah

Mumbai, March 23 It has made it to the bestsellers' list among the visually impaired in India. And now, several manuscripts from Jain literature are all set to be translated into English and then put on the Braille system for blind people living abroad and harbouring an interest in Jainism.

Four years ago, the Blind Graduate Forum of India, a body comprising 700 members—all graduates and all visually impaired—who assist blind students get through their graduation, had discussed an idea. Considering the population of students learning about Jainism though various courses, including certificate courses, diploma courses as well as the MA or PhD level courses, the number of Braille books available on the subject was abysmal.

"When I was a kid, I had read a Braille book on Jainism. So, when the idea struck us at the forum, we approached a social group comprising doctors," says Hasmukh Shah, president of the Blind Graduate Forum of India.

At the forefront of this silent effort is Dr Bipin Doshi, a doctor with a flourishing practice as a private physician in Borivali. His love for Jainism, however, forced him to also take on the mantle of a full-time professor of Jainism at Mumbai University. When contacted by the Blind Graduate Forum who had zeroed down on the idea of converting Jain literature into Braille form, Doshi and the others had to decide on what texts should be converted first. "We consulted an 87-year-old Jain scholar at Navsari near Ahmedabad. We then decided to convert two of the oldest books, the Panch Pratikaman Sutra and 24 Jinvandana," says Dr Doshi.

Four years ago, it was merely an idea. Today, Jainism has reached 500 visually impaired individuals across India, both Jain and non-Jain, for academic purposes, through the efforts of this group.

"The big challenge was to translate the original Ardhmaghdhi language into Hindi. After all, students are taught only the commercially viable languages. Then we had to get everything dotted into Braille," he adds.

This year alone, the demand for literature on Jainism from blind students has increased to 1,200 copies in Braille, from across the country. "It is a no-profit-no-loss venture; we deliver books on demand. Last year, we delivered 500 copies to various institutes in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, etc," says Dr Doshi.

The two books are creating immense interest not only among blind academicians in India but those abroad as well. "We have got three letters from visually impaired individuals from the United States and from Europe, all people interested in learning Jainism. We have already started translating the literature into English now," says Dr Doshi..

"Our ultimate goal is to prepare a rich database for blind individuals interested in studying Jain literature," he adds.