Nemichandji Shastri - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text about Dr. Nemichandji Shastri, based on the content from the four pages:

This document, titled "Dr. Nemichand Shastri" and attributed to Atmanandji, is part of a series about "Modern Jain Luminaries." It provides a biographical account of Dr. Nemichand Shastri, highlighting his lifelong dedication to knowledge, his significant contributions to Jainism, Indian philosophy, astrology, history, and languages.

Early Life and Education:

Dr. Nemichand Shastri was born in the village of Dhaulpur in the Raja Kheda district of Rajasthan, a region described as a confluence of Vedic and Jain culture.
His father, Shri Ratanlalji, was known for his saintly disposition, and his mother was Smt. Javitribai. He was born on a Sunday in January 1915 (VS 1972).
He was his parents' only son. Sadly, he lost his father at the age of two and was raised by his maternal uncle, Dayaram.
From a young age, he displayed a sharp intellect, particularly in mathematics.
After completing his secondary education, he decided to pursue further studies in Kashi (Varanasi).
Despite facing various difficulties, he diligently pursued his studies and by the age of 24, he had achieved mastery in various branches of Oriental studies, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Dharma Shastra, literature, logic (Nyaya), and astrology. He earned degrees in Nyaytirtha, Jyotish (astrology), and Kavyatirtha.

Family Life and Early Career:

In 1936, he was engaged to Sushilaben, daughter of Shri Chiranjilal of Agra, and they were married in 1939.
As family responsibilities arose, he took up a position at an Aara night school to teach religious studies, earning a monthly salary of thirty rupees. Here, he also benefited from the company of Brahmacharini Chandabai.
His duties in Aara were threefold: teaching Sanskrit at the "Jain Bal Vishram" during the day, imparting religious education at the night school, and serving as the head of the library at the Siddhant Bhavan.

Government Service and Resignation:

Dr. Nemichandji excelled in his duties, earning widespread recognition. He continued to advance his studies, laying a strong foundation for his future eminence.
Following advice from friends, he accepted a position in the Education Department of the Bihar Government in 1955, relocating to Sultanpur near Bhagalpur.
However, he found the bureaucracy and rigidity of government service incompatible with his principles of self-respect and truth. He resigned and returned to his original place of work in Aara, dedicating himself to his work at the Siddhant Bhavan.

Academic Pursuits and Literary Contributions:

Through continuous academic pursuit, he obtained degrees such as Shastri, Puranacharya, Sahityaratna, M.A., Ph.D., and D.Litt., truly becoming a "sea of knowledge."
In 1955, he was appointed as the Chief Professor at Jain College in Aara, committed to propagating Jain principles. He received significant support from Dr. Rajaram Jain and Pandit Bhujbali Shastri, transforming the Jain Siddhant Bhavan in Aara into a renowned center for arts, culture, and literary research for Bihar and all of India. In 1963, the institution's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated under his inspiration.
He was instrumental in promoting the Bhojpuri language and making Jain literature accessible to the masses. He organized numerous conferences, branches, seminars, publications, and public honors for scholars.
He was an active member of the executive committee of the Bharatiya Digambar Jain Vidyut Parishad and was elected its president at the 1970 Khatauli convention.
In 1972, he presided over the Prakrit and Jain Philosophy section at the annual convention of the Oriental Studies Conference held in Ujjain.

As an Educator, Author, and Researcher:

He served as an examiner for Ph.D. and D.Litt. degrees at several universities.
Under his guidance, 11 students earned their Ph.D. degrees, many of whom are now esteemed professors and renowned scholars across India.
Throughout his life, his guiding principles were academic dedication and research.
He published 34 works and authored numerous essays on astrology, journalism, editing, and miscellaneous subjects. His life was primarily dedicated to literary service and academic pursuits.

Key Literary Works:

Tirthankar Mahavir and His Ascetic Lineage: His final and most significant work, a tribute to Lord Mahavir, published in 1974 on the 2500th Nirvana anniversary. It comprises four volumes: (1) Tirthankar Mahavir and His Teachings, (2) Shrutadhar and Sarvashastracharya, (3) Prabuddha Acharya and Tradition Protectors, and (4) Acharya-like Poets and Writers.
Hindi-Jain Literature Study: This work is divided into two volumes. The first volume, with seven chapters, discusses the poetic compositions of ancient poets, while the second, with four chapters, examines the works of modern poets.
India as Depicted in Aadi Puran: Shastriji deeply studied various aspects of Indian life from Acharya Jinnsen's Aadi Puran, bringing new facts to light.
World Peace and Jain Religion: An early work that conveys the message that peace is unattainable without conquering internal afflictions like attachment, aversion, anger, pride, deceit, and greed.
Mangalam Namokar: A Contemplation: This work seeks to demonstrate, from multiple perspectives, that the Namokar Mantra is the essence of all twelve Angas of Jin Vani. It also presents a comparative study linking the mantra with psychology, mathematics, yoga, Agam literature, and other scriptures.
Indian Astrology: His astrological writings cover scientific analysis of celestial movements, critical examination of principles, horoscope-based predictions, annual almanac preparation, and discussion of auspicious timings.
Guru Gopal Dasji Smriti Granth: This compilation offers a glimpse into the life of Shri Gopal Dasji, an introduction to his literature, and a collection of his articles. It also includes articles by distinguished authors on religion, philosophy, literature, history, and archaeology.
Prakrit Grammar: Recognizing the continued importance of Prakrit grammar, this work is structured in two volumes: the first focusing on the language and the second on its literature.
Other notable works include Bhagya Pal, Bhadrabahu Samhita, Ratnakar Shatak, Alankar Chintamani, Bharatiya Sahitya-Sansad, Hem Shabdānushasan: Ek Adhyayan, and Abhinav Prakrit Vyākaraṇ.

Illness and Untimely Death:

Despite not having fully recovered from his extensive involvement with the Ujjain Oriental Studies conference, he experienced stomach pain in December 1973.
However, disregarding the pain, he went to teach his college students. Upon returning home, his pain intensified, and he underwent an immediate surgery by Dr. Shahi.
Due to diabetes, the surgical wound healed with difficulty, and his internal condition worsened.
Distinguished scholars like Dr. Kailashchandra Shastri and Dr. Komrachi visited from Kashi to inquire about his health, but his condition continued to deteriorate.
He maintained the recitation of the Navkar Mantra until his last moments.
Nature, however, deemed his life's work complete. Dr. Nemichandji Shastri passed away on January 10, 1974.

Legacy and Call to Action:

The text notes that after the passing of the renowned Jain scholar Pt. Shri Kailashchandraji of Banaras, only three or four scholars of the older generation remained in the field of Jain studies.
The document laments the dwindling interest among researchers and thinkers in Indian culture and Jainology.
It concludes with a fervent appeal for young students to draw inspiration from the life of dedicated scholars like Dr. Nemichandji and to cultivate an interest in Indian culture, literature, and languages. It urges them to continue the vital work of studying and teaching Jainology, calling for enthusiasm, dedication, and cooperation from all those involved.