Prakrut Angreji Bruhad Kosh Ka Nirman - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Prakrut Angreji Bruhad Kosh ka Nirman" by Nalini Joshi, in English:

This article, written by Dr. Nalini Joshi, details the monumental project of creating a Comprehensive and Critical Dictionary of Prakrit Languages (with special reference to Jain Literature). The initiative was deeply impacted by a destructive incident at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute on January 5, 2004.

Inspiration and Initiation:

The Bhandarkar Institute has been a point of contact for Jain scholars and monks for nearly a century regarding manuscripts.
Acharya Shri Punyavijayji, a founding member of the Bhandarkar Institute and a friend of Dr. R.G. Bhandarkar, visited the institute and expressed great interest in the Prakrit-English dictionary project. He personally inspected the scriptorium and the lexicographical methodology.
Inspired by his visit and the need to inform the Indian public, Dr. Joshi wrote this lengthy article.

The Dictionary Project's Origins:

The foundational idea for a comprehensive dictionary of ancient Jain texts belonged to the renowned industrialist, the late Shri Navalmalji Firodia.
In 1986, he established the 'Sanmati-Tirth' trust and contributed ten lakh rupees towards this project.
Contact was made with Dr. R.N. Dandekar, the then-secretary of the Bhandarkar Institute, and Dr. Amrut Madhav Ghatge, a renowned linguist and expert in Prakrit and Jainology, in Kolhapur.
Dr. Ghatge agreed to be the chief editor, and arrangements were made for his accommodation near the institute. He was tasked with creating the dictionary's scheme.
Dr. Ghatge spent six months developing the plan, distributing questionnaires globally, building a library of 1000 books related to Prakrit and Jainism, and selecting four assistants through interviews.
The dictionary work officially commenced on April 1, 1987.

Sustaining the Vision:

Although the three key individuals who initiated this project are no longer alive, their successors are diligently continuing the work.
The annual expenditure for the project is approximately ten lakh rupees.
Shri Abhayji Firodia, Chairman of the Bhandarkar Institute and Sanmati-Tirth, is bearing half of the annual expenses.

Necessity and Scope of the Dictionary:

The article addresses the question of why a new dictionary is needed when existing ones exist. It highlights the unique features of this project:
- Uniqueness in English: This is the first such comprehensive dictionary to be created in English, a language that allows for future translations into all other languages.
- Extensive Scope: The dictionary is based on approximately 500 foundational texts, making its coverage significantly broader than previous dictionaries.
- Inclusion of Jain and Non-Jain Texts: It incorporates all Prakrit texts, both Jain and non-Jain. Words from Jain Sanskrit are not included.
- Broad Definition of Prakrit: The term 'Prakrit' is used broadly to encompass seven distinct Prakrit languages: Ardhamagadhi, Jain Maharashtri, Jain Shauraseni, Maharashtri, Shauraseni, Magadhi, and Apabhramsa.
  - Maharashtri, Shauraseni, and Magadhi contain non-Jain and dramatic Prakrit literature.
  - Ardhamagadhi and Jain Maharashtri primarily contain Shvetambara Prakrit literature.
  - Jain Shauraseni and Apabhramsa were adopted by Digambara scholars for philosophical and biographical texts, respectively.
- Linguistic and Chronological Consideration: The dictionary takes into account the history and chronology of these languages.

Progress and Future Plans:

In the initial five years, word selection resulted in the creation of five lakh word-slips, all arranged alphabetically in the scriptorium.
Editing began after these five years. Currently, 1000 pages of the dictionary have been prepared, covering all words starting with 'A'.
Approximately 100 pages are produced annually, meaning 25,000 words with meanings and citations are recorded each year.
A small fascicule (section) of 100 pages is prepared annually, and volumes are compiled by combining 3-4 fascicules. The third fascicule of the third volume is currently in progress. All words starting with 'Ā' are expected to be completed within a year.
Shri Abhayji Firodia intends to establish another unit for the dictionary. Training for this unit has begun. If this unit operates independently, the dictionary's production speed is expected to increase by 1.5 times, with the hope of completing the dictionary within the next 20 years.

Methodology of Word Entry:

The primary Prakrit word is presented in bold.
Following this, in parentheses, the word is broken down into its constituent parts and Romanized according to early Prakrit.
The Romanized form of the closest Sanskrit equivalent is then provided.
The grammatical classification of the word is given, followed by its distinct meanings with citations.
Citations are organized considering linguistic order and chronology. An example is provided for "Anusasatthi."

Research Team:

The article lists the research scholars working on the dictionary:

Prof. R.P. Poddar (Chief Editor, Sanmati-Tirth)
Dr. Nalini Joshi (Assistant Editor, Bhandarkar)
Dr. Kamalkumar Jain (Assistant Editor, Bhandarkar)
Dr. Minakshi Kodnīkar (Assistant Editor, Bhandarkar)
Prof. G.B. Pansule (Associate Editor, Bhandarkar)
Dr. Lalita Marathe (Junior, Sanmati-Tirth)

Recognition and Appeal for Support:

Many scholars and monastic individuals have praised the complexity and intellectual rigor involved in the dictionary's work, particularly in the process of defining meanings. They have offered good wishes for its successful completion.
The Sanmati-Tirth trust contributes 5 lakh rupees annually, and the Bhandarkar Institute also arranges 5 lakh rupees.
The Bhandarkar Institute operates largely on public donations. Historically, the society has always supported the institute's vast undertakings.
Dr. Joshi concludes with an earnest appeal to Jains worldwide to wholeheartedly support the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute for this monumental dictionary, which aims to clarify the meaning of every word in Jinavani (Jain scriptures).

The article ends with greetings: "Jai Jinendra! Jai Bharat!" and the author's designation.