Ahmedabad: A significant National Workshop on the Significance of Jain Manuscriptology was successfully convened at Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. This landmark event, organized under the aegis of the university’s Department for Validation of Indic Knowledge through Advanced Research and generously funded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs(MoMA) , Government of India, through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), underscored the government’s steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting India’s rich and diverse minority heritage.
The workshop served as a crucial platform, bringing together esteemed scholars, revered Jain monks, and senior government officials to delve into the profound legacy of Jain knowledge traditions. The presence of Param Pujya Prakritacharya Shri Sunil Sagar Ji Maharaj, a highly respected authority in Jain philosophy and Prakrit studies, greatly enriched the academic discourse with his invaluable blessings and insights.
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, Dr. Kumar emphatically reaffirmed the Government of India’s unwavering dedication to the revival and promotion of minority heritage languages and knowledge systems across the nation. He highlighted that such initiatives are a vital component of the broader vision under PMJVK, which aims to uplift and empower all six notified minority communities in India: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains. Joint Secretary, Shri Ram Singh, and Deputy Secretary, Shri Sravan Kumar, were also present, emphasizing the Ministry’s proactive engagement in fostering research and validation of ancient Indic traditions.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs, through strategic collaborations with academic institutions like Gujarat University, is actively working to ensure that ancient wisdom, meticulously preserved in Jain manuscripts and other Indic texts, is not merely conserved but is also seamlessly reintegrated into modern academic and cultural narratives. This workshop is a testament to this strategic thrust, signifying a pivotal step towards integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary research and educational frameworks. The overarching goal is to foster pride in these ancient traditions, ensure their diligent preservation, and drive progress by making them accessible and relevant for future generations.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is a centrally sponsored scheme designed to address developmental deficits in identified Minority Concentration Areas. It focuses on creating socio-economic infrastructure, particularly in the fields of education, health, and skill development, to bridge the gap between these areas and the national average. Under PMJVK, 80% of the resources are earmarked for projects related to education, health, and skill development, with at least 33-40% specifically designated for creating assets and facilities for women and girls.
The Jain manuscript tradition holds immense significance as a vast repository of knowledge, not only preserving Jain philosophical and religious texts but also safeguarding numerous non-Jain texts, including those from Brahmanical and Buddhist schools of thought. The Jain community has historically shown deep reverence for knowledge, materializing this in the establishment of large libraries known as ‘jnān bhāndāgāras,’ which meticulously stored vast collections of written and copied texts.
The workshop underscores the government’s holistic approach to minority welfare, with Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar at the forefront of these efforts, working towards an inclusive future that honors India’s diverse cultural and intellectual heritage. This initiative aligns with similar ongoing efforts, such as the collaboration with Mumbai University to preserve the Avesta and Pahlavi languages of the Parsi Zoroastrian tradition, showcasing a pan-Indian approach to heritage conservation.