Kamtaprasadji Jain - Book Summary

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This document, from the book "Kamtaprasadji Jain" by Atmanandji, highlights the life and contributions of Dr. Kamtaprasadji Jain, a prominent Jain scholar, social worker, and advocate for the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence). His life was dedicated to the service of religion and society, with a particular focus on spreading Jain principles and Ahimsa globally through the World Jain Mission. He is recognized as a significant proponent of Jainism and a devotee of Ahimsa through his literary works.

Early Life and Education:

Dr. Kamtaprasadji Jain was born on May 3, 1901, in Camp Elpur (now in Pakistan).
His parents, Lala Pragdas and Bhagwati Devi, instilled strong religious values in him from childhood. He received excellent education from his mother, akin to the influence of Shivaji and Gandhiji.
He spent his childhood in Hyderabad (Sindh), where he completed his schooling up to the ninth standard. Despite not passing the matriculation exam, through continuous hard work, excellent upbringing, and self-study, he acquired extensive knowledge in various subjects, becoming a renowned scholar.
He learned Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Sindhi from a private tutor, which proved invaluable in his later literary and cultural pursuits.
He began writing articles on diverse topics at the young age of 18.

Family and Professional Life:

Dr. Kamtaprasadji Jain was married twice. After the early demise of his first wife, he remarried at the age of 23.
He had three children from his second marriage: a son, Virendra Kumar, and two daughters, Sarojini and Suman.
His father was a timber contractor for the military department, with businesses in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Hyderabad (Sindh). Dr. Kamtaprasadji joined this firm in 1920.
After his father's health declined, and following his passing on May 20, 1948, Dr. Kamtaprasadji settled in Aliganj, Uttar Pradesh, in 1931, dedicating himself to social service.
He served as an Honorary Magistrate from 1931 to 1949 and as an Assistant Collector from 1943 to 1948.
Despite holding these high positions, he remained committed to honesty and social service, earning widespread praise for his dedication. His organizational skills were evident in his leadership roles in various committees and events.

National and International Accolades:

Dr. Kamtaprasadji Jain received numerous honors from national and international organizations, including:

A gold medal from 'Yashovijayji Jain Granthamala' for his essay on 'Bhagwan Mahavir'.
A silver medal from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for his essay on 'Hindi Sahitya'.
An L.L.D. degree from the Jain Academy in Karachi in 1942.
A Ph.D. from the Ecumenical Church, Canada, for his comparative study of all religions.
Titles of 'Sahityamanishi' from the Sanskrit Parishad, Banaras, and 'Siddhantacharya' from Jain Siddhant Bhavan, Arrah.
Membership in the Royal Asiatic Society, London, and the Keyserling Society, Germany.
The highest honor from the International Religious Union of Central America.
Served as the Reception Secretary for the 15th World Vegetarian Conference in Delhi.
Presided over the Jainism and Nature section of the Oriental Conference in Ahmedabad.

Philanthropy and Editorial Contributions:

He generously donated thousands of rupees to the Akhil Vishwa Jain Mission and its activities.
He provided significant financial assistance to needy and orphaned students.
He also contributed liberally to the publication and distribution of books.
Dr. Kamtaprasadji served as the first editor of the magazine 'Veer' from 1923 for about 30 years, providing skillful editorial leadership.
He also contributed as an editor for 'Voice of Ahimsa' and 'Ahimsa Vani' for many years. 'Ahimsa Vani' gained popularity in Hindi-speaking regions, while 'Voice of Ahimsa' was well-received internationally.
His editorial skills were impressive, and he actively encouraged emerging writers.

Passion for History and Literary Works:

Dr. Kamtaprasadji had a deep interest in Jain history and conducted extensive research in this field.
He enriched society with numerous books on Jain history, including 'Jain Jati Ka Itihas', 'Sankshipt Jain Itihas' (four volumes), 'Prachin Jain Lekh Sangrah', and 'Jain Veeron Ka Itihas'.
Renowned writer Shri Kanhaiyalal Mishra Prabhakar described him as having Jain literature as his subject, Jain history as his ideology, and his mission as dispelling the clouds obscuring the sun of Jainism to illuminate the world with its light.
During his lifetime, he authored approximately 100 books in Hindi and English on history, religion, philosophy, and literature. Some of his significant works include: 'Maharani Chalna', 'Satyamaarg', 'Jain Veeranganaye', 'Jain Veeron Ka Itihas', 'Digambar aur Digambar Muni', 'Veer Pathavali', 'Bhagwan Mahavir Ki Ahimsa Aur Bharat Ke Rajyon Par Unka Prabhav', 'Patitoddharak Jain Dharma', 'Sankshipt Jain Itihas', 'Bhagwan Mahavir', 'Jain Teerth Aur Unki Yatra', 'Ahimsa Aur Uska Vishwavyapi Prabhav', 'Adi Teerthankar Bhagwan Rishabhdev', 'Bhakti Aur Upasana', 'Swami Kundakundacharya Ki Rachnayein', 'Ahimsa-Right Solution of World Problems', 'Some Historical Jain Kings and Heroes', and 'The Religion of Tirthankaras'.
He also published many small booklets to propagate Jainism and Ahimsa.
'The Religion of Tirthankaras', a substantial English work of about 114 pages published in 1964, is considered his most significant and final contribution, reflecting extensive study and research.
Dr. Kasturirand Kasliwal recognized him as an outstanding scholar of Jain literature, stating that his contributions are extremely valuable and that his simplicity, compassion, humility, and erudition are rarely found elsewhere.
Following in the footsteps of Shri Virchand Gandhi and Barrister Champatrayji, Dr. Kamtaprasadji served literature and society immensely by spreading Jainism and Ahimsa nationally and internationally.

Final Journey:

For the last 30 years of his life, he suffered from piles, experiencing frequent bleeding during bowel movements. His health deteriorated significantly after September 1964.
During this period, he also experienced the loss of his wife. Despite his illness and sleepless nights, his son and daughters tried to alleviate his suffering through religious discussions and narratives.
He firmly refused to take allopathic medicines, opting for Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatments throughout his life.
On Sunday, May 17, 1964 (Vaisakh Sud 6, V.S. 2021), his condition worsened, and arrangements were made to take him out of Aliganj for treatment. However, he passed away on the way.
Even at the time of his death, his face bore a smile rather than pain. His son and daughter were reciting the Navkar mantra, and he breathed his last while chanting "Namo Arihantanam...".

The document concludes by stating that society lost a dedicated worker, a learned author, and a distinguished litterateur. It urges the readers to nurture the "World Jain Mission" that he established and to remember his ideals, expanding social and religious service in accordance with his vision, thereby making Jainism accessible to the masses and enabling the world to understand its principles of Ahimsa.