Videsho Me Prakrit Aur Jain Vidyao Ka Adhyayan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Videsho me Prakrit aur Jain Vidyao ka Adhyayan" (Study of Prakrit and Jain Studies in Foreign Countries) by Harindrabhushan Jain, based on the provided pages:

This article, "Study of Prakrit and Jain Studies in Foreign Countries" by Dr. Harindrabhushan Jain, discusses the growing research and study of Prakrit and Jainology in various countries outside of India. The author highlights the significant contributions of scholars and institutions in Germany, Japan, Russia, America, France, Belgium, Finland, and Australia, among others.

Key points from the article include:

Germany: Germany is identified as a leading nation in the study of Indian knowledge. Universities in Göttingen and Bonn have dedicated departments for Indian and Buddhist Studies, with prominent scholars like Dr. Gustavoroth and Dr. Hans W. Wessert focusing on Prakrit and Jainism. Their work includes publications on Jainism and its literature. Dr. Klaus Fischer at Bonn University teaches Jain sculpture as part of Indian art, with his essays appearing in journals like "Ways of Ahimsa" and "Jain Journal." Dr. Chandrabhal Tripathi in Berlin has been researching Jain manuscripts in German libraries since 1964, publishing a catalog of Strasbourg Jain manuscripts and an essay on the cataloging traditions of Jain manuscripts. He has also written on "Ratnamanjusha and Chhandovichiti" and "Jain Concordance and Bhashya Concordance," introducing a new scientific research methodology. Dr. Ulrich Schneider at Freiburg University is a renowned Prakrit scholar focusing on the linguistic analysis of Ashoka's inscriptions. Other emerging scholars in Germany include Dr. A. Matte (Munich), Dr. Hinuber (Bonn), and Dr. Bolle, Dr. Bruhn, and Dr. Muller (Berlin).
Japan: Dr. E. Nakamura is credited with initiating the study of Jain philosophy in Japan. Dr. H. Nakamura has conducted comparative studies of Jain and Buddhist philosophy. Dr. S. Matsunami, a disciple of Dr. Schubring, studies Jain Agamas and Ardhamagadhi and is a professor at Riso University. The younger generation of scholars in Japan is also actively involved, with Mr. Nagasaki translating Acharya Hemchandra's Pramanamimansa into Japanese. Dr. S. Okudani, who studied Jain Agamas and Prakrit from Dr. L. Alsdorf, has written a book in German titled "Ein digambar dormetik." Mr. Taiken Hanaki, a disciple of Dr. Nathmal Tatia, has translated the Anuyogadwara into English. Ms. S. Ohira, a student of the late Dr. A.N. Upadhye, conducted research on Jainism at the L.D. Institute, Ahmedabad. Mr. Takahashi has taught Jainism in India and has published three essays on the subject in Japanese. A leading scholar, Dr. Atsuyoshi Uno, head of the Philosophy Department at Hiroshima University, studied in India and has written extensively in English and Japanese on Jainism, including syllabic analysis of Syadvada, soul, karma, and knowledge. He is also working on a commented Japanese translation of Syadvadamanjari and plans to write a book on Jainism in Japanese.
Russia: Research on Prakrit and Jainism has also commenced in Russia. Notable Prakrit scholars include Madam Margaret Borovikova Dasyasvitskaya and Madam Tatyana Karenina (Leningrad University). Madam Nayli Goseva (Moscow) and Mr. Andre Terentiev (Leningrad) are prominent researchers of Jainism. Madam Goseva has written a booklet on Jainism in Russian, and Mr. Terentiev is researching Jain history and Umaswati's Tattvarthasutra. Professor Igor Serebryakov at the Institute of Oriental Studies in Moscow is also involved in Jain studies, having published a Russian translation of Acharya Haribhadra's Dhurtakhyana.
America: Professor Padmanabh S. Jaini at the University of California's South East Asian Studies Department is a renowned Jain scholar with extensive research and publications. He has presented comparative studies of Jain principles at numerous conferences and has been teaching and researching Jainism abroad for twenty years. The University of Hawaii in Honolulu is also a significant center for Indian and Jain studies. The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has a long history of Indian and Jain studies, with Dr. Ernest Bender actively contributing to the field. He has published numerous articles and books related to non-violence and Jainism and edits an American research journal on Oriental studies. Jain centers have also been established in New York by Dr. Chitrabhanu and Muni Sushilkumar, promoting research in Jain meditation, ethics, and logic.
France: Dr. Colette Caillat, Director of Research at the Jain and Buddhist Philosophy Department of Paris University, is a distinguished scholar of Prakrit and Apabhramsa languages and Jain philosophy. She has published an English translation of Muni Rajsingh's Pahad Doha and a comparative study of Jain principles in Dohapahad with Brahmanical texts in a French essay. She has also delivered lectures on Jainism in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Other Countries:
- Belgium: Professor J.A.C. Del of Ghent University is a respected scholar of Jain philosophy and a former student of Dr. Schubring.
- Finland: Dr. Asko Parpola has a special interest in the linguistic study of Prakrit and is currently studying Jain Agamas, guiding some students in their research.
- Australia: Professor Basham and Metu Harkus at the Australian National University, Canberra, are researching and guiding studies in Indian and Jain traditions, with several publications to their credit.
- Austria and Former Germany: Dr. Fadwalsner (Vienna) and Professor Modeka (Halle) are also mentioned for their contributions to teaching and research in Jain studies in their respective countries.

The article concludes by expressing hope that these international centers of learning will continue to significantly contribute to the dissemination and proper understanding of Jainology worldwide.