Vaishali Shodh Sansthan Me Shodh Ke Kshitij

This document, titled "Vaishali Shodh Sansthan me Shodh ke Kshitij" (Horizons of Research at the Vaishali Research Institute), authored by Lalchand Jain, details the establishment, objectives, departments, and achievements of the Prakrit and Jain Shastra Research Institute in Vaishali, Bihar.

Establishment and Purpose:

• The institute was established by the Bihar government with the aim of promoting, reviving, and restoring the ancient knowledge, culture, and literature originating and developed in Bihar.
• It was a brainchild of the then Education Secretary, Jagdish Chandra Mathur, and its establishment was primarily credited to the Vaishali Mahotsav and the Vaishali Sangh.
• The proposal to open a Prakrit Jain Institute was passed in 1952. Financial support was crucial, with a significant donation of six and a quarter lakh rupees from the industrialist Shahu Shantiprasad Jain paving the way for its final acceptance by the Bihar government in 1955.
• The foundation stone was laid on April 23, 1956, in Baso Kund, the birthplace of Lord Mahavir, by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
• Dr. Hiralal Jain, a renowned scholar of Prakrit and Jainology, served as the first director.
• Initially located in a rented building in Muzaffarpur, the institute's main office permanently moved to Vaishali, Baso Kund, in March 1965, after approximately thirteen acres of land were donated by the residents of Baso Kund.

Rationale for Establishment:

• Abundance of Material: Prakrit language and literature, similar to Sanskrit and Pali, contains a vast amount of material in poetry, science, philosophy, history, and socio-cultural aspects.
• Lack of Attention: Until 1952, scholarly attention towards Prakrit literature was minimal. While renowned Orientalists had conducted significant studies, there was a lack of focus from emerging talents.
• Need for Research Facilities: Students of Jain knowledge traditions who desired higher studies lacked a dedicated research facility. No university offered adequate facilities for Prakrit language study or research. The institute was established to provide a conducive environment for students and scholars to study, research, and connect with ancient and modern scholars.

Departments of the Prakrit Research Institute:

The institute's work is categorized into three main areas:

1. Higher Studies (Postgraduate):

   • The institute offers a two-year Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Prakrit and Jain Shastra, with specializations in Literature, Jain Philosophy, Jain Logic, Epistemology, and Comparative Philosophy.
   • Students have the freedom to choose subjects according to their interests.
   • The institute is affiliated with Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, for its curriculum and research.
   • Between 1958 and 1976, 88 students completed their M.A. in Prakrit Jainology, with all opting for the Literature specialization. Many graduates are now serving in universities, research institutes, and colleges across India, contributing to Prakrit and Jain studies. Prominent alumni are listed, including Dr. Nagendraprasad, Dr. Vimalprakash Jain, and Dr. Rajaram Jain.

2. Research Department:

   • This department admits students who have passed postgraduate examinations in Prakrit Jain Shastra, Philosophy, Sanskrit, Ancient History and Culture, Sanskrit, and Pali from various universities for Ph.D. research.
   • Research scholars are required to choose topics related to Prakrit Jain language and literature.
   • They receive a monthly stipend of ₹200, along with free hostel accommodation, electricity, and water. A large library is available to aid in thesis preparation.
   • Upon approval of their thesis, Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, awards the Ph.D. degree in Prakrit Jain Shastra.
   • Currently, fifty students have registered for Ph.D. in Prakrit Jainology, and twenty-nine have successfully completed their theses and received their degrees. A list of these completed works is provided, covering a range of topics from the Bhagavati Sutra to studies on Ahimsa in ancient Hindi poetry and Indian logic.
   • At the time of writing, twenty-two scholars were actively working on their Ph.D. theses on various subjects, including elements of parapsychology, war in ancient India, critical study of the Sutrakrtanga, and comparative studies of Jain and Brahmanical traditions.
   • Critique of Research Directions: A table indicates that most research is focused on literature (49 scholars), with less than a third on other areas like logic, philosophy, comparative studies, linguistics, economics, and politics. The author notes a critical need for scientific study of Jain Vidyas and Prakrit languages in modern contexts but finds a lack of research in these areas. The author suggests that some scholars may be content with obtaining a degree without substantial intellectual effort and emphasizes the need for greater diversity in research topics to fulfill the institute's objectives, acknowledging the institute's efforts in this direction.

3. Library:

   • The institute possesses a library containing approximately 12,129 books, including ancient and modern texts on Prakrit Jain Shastra, Pali, and Sanskrit, as well as books on ancient history, Indian and Western philosophy, grammar, and dictionaries.
   • Both the institute's students and external researchers utilize the library.
   • A regrettable observation is that the library does not collect handwritten manuscripts.

4. Publication Department:

   • This department is responsible for publishing high-quality research theses, especially in Jain Shastra and Prakrit, and editing and publishing ancient, unavailable texts.
   • The selection of texts for publication is based on the recommendations of a publication committee, which includes the institute's director, the Commissioner of Tirhut Division, Pandit Kailashchandra Shastri, Pandit Dalshukbhai Malvania, and Lakshmichandra Jain.
   • The Bihar government provides an annual grant of ₹80,000 for publication, but in the preceding two to three years, the entire amount was returned, leading the government to reduce the grant to ₹20,000.
   • Over the past 24 years, only 17 books have been published, including titles like "Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra," "A Critical Study of the Pauychariyua," and "Indian Logic."
   • The publication committee had decided to publish several books, including "Economic Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canonical Literature," "Rupakar Hastimal: A Critical Study," and "Pauychariyua and Ramcharit Manas."

The author concludes with the hope that the institute will develop new research directions and overcome its current limitations in the future.