Manav Sarjit Durghatanaono Bhog Banel Ek Vidyatirth

This document is an article titled "A Vidyateerth (Seat of Learning) Becomes a Victim of Man-Made Disasters" published in March 2004. It discusses an attack on the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune, India, by a group called the Sambhaji Brigade.

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

1. Introduction to BORI and its Jain Connection:

• BORI, established in 1917 in Pune, is a world-renowned research institute for Oriental studies, founded in honor of Dr. Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar.
• Prominent Jain scholar, Acharya Muni Jinvijayji, was a key figure and active participant in its establishment.
• BORI houses a vast collection of manuscripts, with a significant portion being Jain texts, including a large, almost complete section of palm-leaf manuscripts.
• It has been instrumental in publishing Jain works, including the descriptive catalog of Jain manuscripts by Dr. Hiralal R. Kapadia and the famous "Jinaratnakosha-1" by Dr. H.D. Velankar.
• The institute also preserves the rare manuscript collection of German Jain scholar Shubhadra Devi (Charlotte Krause) and is currently involved in creating a comprehensive dictionary of the Prakrit language, the language of Jain Agamas.
• This highlights the strong and ongoing connection between Jainism and BORI.

2. The Attack on BORI:

• On January 5, 2004, a large group from the "Sambhaji Brigade" in Pune violently attacked BORI.
• The attack caused unimaginable damage.
• The stated reason for the attack was a book titled "Shivaji: A Hindu King in Islamic India," written by a US-based scholar named James Laine.
• Laine had acknowledged the institute and its scholars for their assistance in his research.

3. The Controversial Book and the Pre-existing Resolution:

• The book contained certain "bad statements" about Shivaji, which led to disagreement among scholars.
• The government had banned the book, and the publishers had withdrawn it.
• Therefore, the necessary reactions and redressal for the controversial writing had already taken place, and the matter was considered closed.

4. The Brigade's Unprovoked Attack:

• Despite the matter being resolved, the Sambhaji Brigade group suddenly became enraged.
• They attacked the institute, citing its offense of providing references to the author of the book.
• Approximately 150 individuals participated in the attack, causing significant damage.

5. Details of the Damage (as reported in newspapers):

• Gujarat Samachar (Ahmedabad, Jan 6, 2004):
  • Around 150 people arrived in various vehicles.
  • They vandalized the entire campus, chanting slogans.
  • Thousands of books, including rare manuscripts, were set on fire.
  • Police reported that ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, computers, Xerox machines, and furniture were destroyed.
• Rajasthan Patrika (Bhopal-Jaipur, Jan 25, 2004):
  • The article "Kahar on Heritage" by Vani Bhatnagar states that "Sambhaji Brigade activists poured their anger on this institution engaged in heritage preservation."
  • The "temple of study and research," adorned with thousands of rare manuscripts, ancient books, and palm-leaf records, now appeared desolate.
  • During the vandalism, 18,000 books and 30,000 rare manuscripts were destroyed.
  • A Mundkat Ganesh idol, a 1935 Hyderabad Nizam album, and other important collections were stolen.
  • The destruction of books crucial for historical research was deeply distressing for researchers and scholars who had dedicated their lives to the institution.
  • The loss of 30,000 manuscripts stored in 50 cupboards was highlighted.
• Leela Arjundawadkar, Chairperson of the Institute's Governing Council:
  • Stated that the damage to BORI was a "deep blow to Indian heritage" and that it would be difficult for the institute to recover.
• Sambhashan Sandesh (February 2004 issue):
  • The article "Abhibhootam Hi Bhandaram" reported that the attackers, while chanting slogans of Chhatrapati Shivaji's victory, first attacked the 'Shivcharitra' collection in the library and caused immense damage to it. This was described as a "divine misfortune."
  • Books were thrown down, torn, furniture destroyed, computers ruined, and manuscript collections annihilated.
  • The statue of Goddess Saraswati was broken into pieces.
  • A picture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was also destroyed.
  • Portraits and oil paintings of scholars of Indology and Sanskrit were defaced and torn.
  • The large oil painting and statue of the institute's founder, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, were among the damaged items.
  • The collection donated by Bhandarkar at the time of the institute's establishment also suffered significant damage.
  • Out of the vandals, 72 were apprehended by the police, and legal proceedings were ongoing.
  • The article posed the question of how the irreparable loss of rare books and items could be compensated and how the peace necessary for serious study could be restored. It questioned what was achieved by this destruction.

6. The Impact on Jainology:

• The author emphasizes that the destruction of ancient manuscripts and palm-leaf records is deeply regrettable, especially for Jains and students of Jainology.
• The collection contained many rare Jain Agamas, scriptures, and various other Jain texts, some of which might have been the only existing copies.
• This represents a significant and irreversible loss for the entire community.

7. Aid and the Lingering Question:

• Many institutions, governments, and individuals have come forward to compensate for the financial and material losses.
• The Jain community in Pune has also been inspired to offer appropriate assistance.
• However, the fundamental question remains: how can the loss of destroyed ancient books be truly compensated?

8. Update: Reassuring Information (Addendum):

• Correspondence to gather information about the cultural damage at BORI revealed that the manuscript collection did not suffer significant damage and was largely safe.
• Dr. Nalini Ben Joshi from the dictionary project stated in a letter dated 23-2-2004 that the damage was mostly to physical items like glass, cupboards, fans, windows, tables, chairs, and computers.
• The Ganesh idol and album were missing, and the oil paintings of scholars were mostly destroyed.
• Crucially, all 10,000 manuscripts were safe, although they had fallen from the shelves and were covered by cupboards. No book or manuscript was burned.
• The writer expresses relief that their heritage is "mostly safe."
• However, computers and other valuable items were thoroughly destroyed.
• Around 50 Jain women in Pune worked for four days to restore 10-15 thousand books. The Prakrit dictionary department was organized in two days.
• Approximately 200 students from Pune assisted the main library.
• Financial aid is coming in from ordinary citizens to industrialists.
• The author is advised not to be overly distressed as the damage is "repairable."

9. Concluding Remarks on the Update:

• This update is reassuring.
• While the news of thousands of books being destroyed initially caused panic, these reports alleviate some of that fear.
• However, the author notes that some damage to books is still likely, as books were thrown down, cupboards fell on them, and some were crushed.
• The image of a valuable Bhagwat book being torn in "Sambhashan Sandesh" is mentioned, indicating that some damage is undeniable.
• The active participation of Jain women is highly commendable.
• The article concludes by emphasizing that knowledge and knowledge institutions are shared property, and it is the duty of wise people to defend them when they are threatened, as exemplified by these women and students.
• The Pune Jain Shvetambar Murtipujak Sangh has also decided to provide generous assistance.

In essence, the article documents a violent attack on a prestigious research institute, highlighting the destruction of cultural heritage, particularly concerning Jain manuscripts. While initial reports painted a grim picture of widespread destruction, a subsequent update suggests that the most valuable manuscript collections were largely spared, though significant damage to physical infrastructure and other collections did occur. The article serves as a critique of mob violence and a testament to the community's efforts in preserving and restoring knowledge.