The unique experiment to take the academic studies of Jainism to the universities of North America primarily was launched in January 2005. The difficult route of selecting, motivating and then bringing professors, research scholars and serious graduate and undergraduate scholars to India and providing them a rigorous Live-in’ experience of Jainism in India was chosen. The Indian program was designed for a two months summer stay in India at different places of interest for Jainism and way of life to:

 

·        Present a comprehensive program addressing all sects of Jains.

·        Organize a comprehensive academic program of approximately 100 class room lectures by competent Jain scholars

·        Arrange visits to temples, monks and nuns, laity, rituals, pilgrim places and social welfare organizations run by Jains.

·        Encourage participants to do an independent research of a week under the guidance of faculty

·        Provide books, papers and references for further study.

·        Use modern technologies of multimedia for teaching and exposure of Jainism.

Besides it was agreed that the selection of participants shall be a transparent process involving university professors of demonstrable exposure to Jain studies.  Thanks to the support of a handful of visionary and resourceful Jains in USA and India, this unique experiment took off with flying colours.

 

Progress 2005-2008

 

·        Participants enrolment

Four summer schools have been organized since 2005. The attendance in these schools had been as follows:

ISSJS2005                     7 scholars

ISSJS 2006                  14 scholars

ISSJS 2007                  28 scholars

ISSJS2008                   38 students and scholars

Total                            87

 

The numbers above show a dramatic increase in the number of attending students and scholars.  So far the participants have come from 15 universities of USA, Canada, Thailand, Cambodia, Russia and Cuba. Every year had been a learning experience as we at ISSJS acted in true Jain tradition of Shravaka (listeners) and taking corrective action to enhance the effectiveness of ISSJSs. This was achieved by close interaction between organizers and participants and taking remedial action when needed, having annual review meetings and the management in USA getting direct feedback from participants and their supervisors.

·        Some of the significant achievements of these four years have been:

Ø Alumni

üFive alumni members have started teaching Jainism in their universities /colleges

üEight alumni have enrolled for PhD with Jainism as a significant topic of their research.

üMore than twenty papers have been published by them in different journals.

üSeveral radio talks have been given

üOne of the alumni prepared an album on Navkar mantra on Crystals which has become an auspicious practice to play at international conferences.

Ø Others

üOver 500 students in different universities are attending lectures /courses in Jainism in USA, Canada and Thailand.

üAwareness about Jainism has increased tremendously in the academic community

üScholars from Canada and USA have ISJS as their institute of first call for their research on Jainism.

üAAR and DANAM have recognized Jain studies. Separate session for technical papers on Jainism is reserved in their annual meetings. 

üDirector ISJS and other faculty members are invited regularly by universities to present papers and deliver lectures in their universities and seminars.

üUniversities and Research Institutes in India are now getting associated with ISJS for the delivery of this program.

üProfessors from USA and Canada are invited regularly to deliver lectures and train ISJS faculty.

üISJS faculty going overseas sponsored by overseas agencies under Interfaith program.

üStudy Notes having more than 70 papers prepared and sold to attending scholars and universities overseas. The same are also made available on line at www.jainstudies.org . Electronic newsletter was also started.

üSeveral books and chapters on Jainism contributed by ISJS alumni and faculty.

üAssociations with international study organizations like American Institute of Indian Studies and Shastri Institute of Indo – Canadian Studies were cemented.

 

 

ISSJS2009

 

Ø ISSJS has now expanded to three Stand-alone programs;

ü One month program in Thailand (at Mahidol University, in Bangkok) April 23^rd to May 15^th 2009. This program is jointly offered by Mahidol University and ISJS

ü  One month long ISSJS in India from May 24^th to June 22^nd 2009.

ü  Two months long ISSJS in India from May 30^th to July 19^th 2009.

ü  Forty five scholars and students shall attend these programs from USA, Canada, Thailand, UK, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland. The list of attending scholars and students follows later.

Ø Prof Padmanabha S. Jaini, professor emeritus at University of California Berkley USA and a renowned Jain scholar in the world shall be teaching at ISSJS in India for a week and deliver several lectures for larger audience.

Ø Two ISJS chapters, one in UK with Dr Atul Shah as chairman and other in Bangkok with Mr. Pramod Jain as the chairman have been established.

 

Thus ISSJS2009 has become bigger, better, broader and truly international. ISSJS are now offered in India and abroad also

 

New Initiatives

Based on the experience of last four years and discussions with overseas academic community, it was felt essential to establish strong relationships with Indian universities and research institutes and initiate activities to have year round activities to promote Jain academic studies. Some of the initiatives made recently are summarized below:

·        Ecumenical Centers and revival of Jain Research institutes in India

A number of professors and research scholars have a need to undertake research in their chosen field every five years or earlier depending on the opportunities available. It was felt that ISJS should establish centres of excellence around the country where these scholars can come and spend short periods of a week to several months and utilize the board-lodge-library-faculty and other academic institutions to perform their research. Such stays also provide opportunities for ISJS faculty to interact with these experts and enhance their own knowledge and start a dialogue with academic world overseas. The first initiative undertaken is to set up ISJS-PV global Centre for Ahinsa and Indic Research at Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth Varanasi.  The centre has started functioning and meets all the requirements enlisted above. Director ISJS has been appointed as the chairman of this centre. Facilities of Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth upgraded by ISJS will be used extensively by ISSJS also. Efforts are on way to establish such centres in Jaipur, Indore, Mumbai and Chennai.

·        Representation in Indian universities & Interfaith organizations

During the current year ISJS increased its involvement with Interfaith organizations and universities. ISJS participated and presented papers in such organizations at Bangalore, S.A.Jain College Ambala, Jamia Milia University, Nanded, Madras University and many more. We see significant increase in such activities to increase appreciation of Jain studies in the academic world. 

·        Translation and publication of Jain sacred books in English

ISJS has completed English translation of the most important Jain sacred text Tattvarthasutra in an easy to learn interactive form (questions and answers form) called Key to Reality. The book is ready for publication. It is hoped that this book will serve the pressing needs of Jain scholars in India wishing to migrate writing and teaching in English, ne jain scholars overseas and educated Jains who wish to start serious study of Jain doctrine.

 

IJS is in the process of finalizing a contract to translate a four volume Jain history book giving detailed account of Jain history.

·        Preparing young Jain scholars in India

ISJS is negotiating several scholarships with leading Jain philanthropists to institute scholarships for Jain scholars pursuing PhD research. Such projects shall be administered by ISJS and the scholar needs to be affiliated to a recognized university for his research. 

We are very much at the beginning of our long journey to make JAIN Studies as an acceptable area of interest in the academic world.  ISSJS Program intends to become an enabler to raise awareness about the Jain academic education, its teaching and research in the colleges and Universities around the world.  ISJS looks for your continued patronage and enthusiastic support for its activities to make Jain principles of Ahinsa, Aparigraha and Anekanta make a positive contribution to humanity at large. This will be the biggest prabhavana of Mahavira’s doctrine.

·        Interact with Jain community in India and abroad

ISJS has started lecturing and holding subject classes at various Jain temples and events. Lectures at Terapanth Bhavan Faridabad on Mahavia Jayanti, Chhoti Dadabari and Sushil Ashram Defence Colony, Jain temple Bangkok, Addressing Jain community in Chennai and teaching at R.K.Puram Jain temple are some such initiatives. ISJS has also hired a scholar to augment this activity which is essential to enhance interest and support of jain community for ISJS.         

                                                                    Jai Jinendra

 

                                                                       

Shugan C Jain

Director

 

1.        Prof. Padmanabh S Jaini, who had been the professor of Buddhist and Jain studies at Oxford and Berkley and is now Professor (emeritus) at Berkley and is the foremost scholar of Jainism internationally, has kindly agreed to spend the first fortnight with ISSJS2009. His books Jain Path of Purification, Gender Salvations, Selected Papers on Jainism and Sectoral debates and many more are widely acclaimed as masterpieces on Jain studies. He shall be teaching for the first week of ISSJS2009 at Delhi and also deliver three seminars on different aspects of Jain studies to academic and influential people in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.  ISSJS is indeed honored to have Prof Jaini with us. This is perhaps the finest opportunity for serious scholars of Buddhism, Jainism and South Asian studies to learn first hand from the vast experience of Prof Jaini.

 

2.         Admissions to ISSJS2009 open.

 

Admissions to both program i.e. one month program and two months program are open now. ISSJS 2009 is completely overhauled in academic content, facility management and other field activities. The program is now made modular so that a key faculty member is responsible for delivering effectively the entire module and be available to the scholars for discussions. ISSJS2009 is being organized in separate classes, which will be totally independent physically and academic content wise. The scholars enrolling for the two months program will have ample opportunities to have in depth discussions and insiders view of Jainism and its relevance to 21^st century. The scholars enrolling for one month program will have sufficient exposure to encourage them for taking up Jain studies further in their academic pursuits. Last date for submission of application form is February 14^th 2009.

 

All scholars selected for the two months program are eligible for some financial assistance.

 

Announcement concerning the admissions and invitation for application is attached (Click to View). Kindly do post it on your college notice boards to give a wide publicity to the program.

 

Please visit www.jainstudies.org for detailed information and admission application.

 

 

3.        ISSJS 2009 at Mahidol University Bangkok ( Thailand)  April 2009-May 2009

 

ISJS is happy to announce the organization of a one month summer school at Mahidol University Bangkok from April 27^th to May 23^rd 2009. The Jain community in Bangkok under the leadership of Mr. Pramod Jain and Mahidol University in Bangkok has been associated with ISJS for the last three years. They have been sending their scholars regularly to attend the last three schools in India. The announcement for admissions is attached( Click to View) for your information and a request to encourage scholars in Thailand and vicinity to apply for admissions and take advantage of this unique experience of learning Jainism, which along with Buddhism is one of the two Shramanic philosophical traditions of India. Please apply fast directly to our Bangkok coordinators. The last date for applications is December 15^th 2008.

 

Please visit www.jainstuides.org for announcement and application procedure.

 

 

4.   ISJS board meets with the leaders of Jain community in London. U.K.

       

Click to see the attachment

 

       5.    ISJS has a Face and Presence in U.K now.

 

As a result of the meeting at Oshwal Jain Center at Potters Barr in London, ISSJS was formally launched in the U.K. Jayni Gugka; a graduate student at School of Oriental and African Studies is now the program director there. Dr. Atul Shah, Ramesh Shah ( a distinguished Professor of  Law at London University ) and Vinod Kapashi will provide her guidance, support and  direction in promoting ISSJS within the academic community in the U.K and also in Europe.  

 

6.   Prof. Gary Francione, Distinguished Professor of Law & Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy. Rutgers University School of Law USA and an highly acclaimed author of many books on Animal Rights, exhorts the Jain community leaders to make Jainism available to the wider world of those who were not born into the Jain tradition.

 

“In my course on human rights/animal Rights, which I am teaching this semester, I am discussing Jaina doctrine and Ahimsa. “

 

“The primary reason that I am writing to you, however, is to emphasize to you the importance of making Jainism accessible to those who were not born into the Jain tradition. Although the Jains who I have had the good fortune to meet-the Samanijees, Pravin Shah, Sulekh Jain, Shugan Jain, etc.-have been nothing but helpful and generous with their time, and with providing and recommending books and other educational materials, Jainism is still very much something that is shared largely by those who were born into it-and not even by all of them. I have met a number of Jain youths who are completely unacquainted with Jainism and that is sad”.

 

“It is my hope that the leaders of the Jaina community will realize that an important task before them is to consider seriously ways in which Jainism can be made more accessible to all of us. The doctrines of Ahimsa, Anekanta, and Aparigraha are more relevant than at any time in human history. ‘These doctrines speak to all of the pressing issues of our time: war, poverty, violence, and ecological destruction”.  

 

7.   Dr Shugan Jain Director ISJS delivered a lecture on Relevance of Jainism in 21^st century at S.A. Jain College Ambala. ( Haryana ), India

 

Dr Shugan Jain, director of ISJS India presented a paper on Relevance of Jainism in 21^st century, at the national seminar organized by S.A. Jain Ambala and sponsored by The University Grants Commission of India. The seminar, a whole day affair was attended by a large body of Jain scholars and community leaders and presided by Justice S. K. Jain. Dr Jain was also the guest of honour at the seminar.

 

8.   Introducing the distinguished people behind ISJS.

From this issue, we are introducing the people who are the real builders of ISJS movement. We start by introducing the top three philanthropists from India who has been supporting ISJS since its beginning.

 

      Dr. Mahendra Kumar Pandya chairman Ashi Diamonds New York and Mumbai

 

He is a medical consultant by training and profession, who spent most of his professional life in USA. He is now the chairman of one of the most prominent diamonds trading companies in New York run by his sons and himself and leads a retired life practicing the Jain way of life and supporting a number of charitable religious, health, and educational organizations run by Jains. He was a past president of Jaina in USA and the founder of the largest Jain temple in New York. Dr. Pandya divides his time equally between Indore and New York.

 

Dr. Pandya is perhaps the foremost Jain community leader who takes very keen interest in enhancing the Jain teachings and way of life. He is associated with a large number of Jain organizations involved in reviving old Jain institutions and building new ones for social and religious causes. He is the founding patron of ISJS and is always available to guide ISJS activities and extends support in mobilizing resources from others as well.

 

Sh. Ashok Patni chairman of R.K.Marble Pvt. Ltd., a Guinness record holder company for highest production of marble and ISO 9002 certified company.

 

His social endeavors have been directed towards giving best to the society and for the enrichment of several social welfare projects like schools, hospitals and offering scholarships to the budding students.

 

He is recipient of several awards like “Padam Divakar”, “Jain Gaurav”, income tax “Samman”, second prize for paying highest income tax in the category “Public Limited Company”, for the assessment year 1997-98, Guinness World Record Certificate in 2000 etc.

 

He lives with his family in Rajasthan.

 

Shri Subhash Chand Jain Chairman Ranee Polymers Ltd. New Delhi

 

He along with his father Dr Kailash Chand Jain and brothers established the first toy company in India called Raja Toys. Later on he left the toy business to be managed by his brothers and established Ranee Polymers Ltd, a leading auto ancillary supplying plastic components and sub assemblies to leading companies like Honda and others in and around Delhi.

 

He and the entire family had been deeply involved in various social and religious activities including upgrading Jain pilgrim places, establishing temples and publishing Jain texts. He also runs a girl’s school and a charitable dispensary in Delhi. He is always available to silently support the needy families in their times of distress.

 

He had been instrumental since beginning of ISJS to ensure successful establishment of Jain academic studies and contribute to the general well being of the societies everywhere based on the three principles of Ahinsa, Aparigraha and Anekant. He is always forthcoming to assist whenever approached by ISJS.

 

He lives with his wife, son and grand son and their families in New Delhi.

 

 

9.   Papers and books under preparation by ISJS.

 

ISJS India is undertaking the following three major projects to publish books.

 

i.                     Upgrade the Study Notes version 2.0 to version 3.0 by including corrections and adding ten more papers. The study notes shall also be published as electronic book also so that the same can be circulated widely economically and online. We are thankful to Ms. Karuna Jain and Aparigraha Jain of Berlin Germany for their valuable contribution in editing version 2.0 and putting the corrected version on line.

ii.                   English translation of Tattvarathsutra, The book of reality and path of liberation in question and answer form so that readers can understand the metaphysical and other aspects of Jainism clearly. The original book was written in Hindi by Acarya Srutasagarji and is being translated in English by ISJS. This is likely to be ready for publication before ISSJS2009.

iii.                  Dr Sulekh Jain, chairman ISJS USA has commissioned ISJS India to prepare a book on significant and unique Contributions of Jainism and Jain Community to the society. The project is underway and is likely to be completed by January 2010. 

 

10. Condolences in ISJS family:

 

ISJS regrets to inform the death of:

 

Mrs. Kamala Sogani, wife of Prof K. C. Sogani, member of academic council of ISJS India, trustee of Shri Mahavirji Tirth and Jain Vidhya Sansthan and most respected Jain scholar in India. Dr. Shugan Jain attended the funeral services in Jaipur and expressed the heart felt condolences to Prof. Sogani on behalf of ISJS.

 

Mr. Amrit Lal Jain, elder brother of our major donor and guide in USA, Mr. Swatantar Jain passed away in Houston. He was living in Houston for the last twenty six years and in USA for nearly 40 years and deeply involved in religious and philanthropic activities. Dr. Sulekh Jain attended the funeral services in Houston and expressed the heart felt condolences to the family on behalf of ISJS family.

 

On behalf of ISJS we pray for peace to the departed souls and to strength the families to bear the loss of departed souls.

The fall season is here with students going back to universities and colleges. We have been busy in reviewing the ISSJS2008 and preparing for ISSJS2009. We are glad to inform you that the governing council of ISSJS has introduced a number of initiatives to make ISSJS2009 more academically rewarding and experiential program.

We are attaching the ANNOUNCEMENT folder inviting applications for ISSJS2009. Kindly print and post on the notice boards of your colleges and universities and also publicize this unique program to prospective students and scholars. We encourage you to nominate and to pass this information to other scholars interested in attending ISSJS 2009. For details please visit www.jainstudies.org as well as to download the application form. The last date for applying is Feb 14^th 2009. So please hurry.

 Prof P.S. Jaini from University of California, Berkley to teach in ISSJS 2009  

 We are glad and honored to inform you that Prof P.S. Jain, the eminent Jain scholar in USA and Professor emeritus at University of California at Berkley, will be with ISSJS from June 2^nd till June 12^th 2009. He will be teaching a three days module in Delhi and deliver a number of seminars at Delhi and Jaipur for the academic community. He will also visit with us the pilgrimage to central Indian pilgrim points at Agra, Gwalior and Deogarh.  The attending scholars will greatly benefit from his scholarship in Jain and Buddhist studies. He is the author of several books and papers including the most famous book ‘Jain path of purification’.

 ISJS Governing council meets in London:

 The governing council of ISJS is meeting in London from Oct 10^th to 12^th 2008. This is annual retreat where the governing council members are involved in group discussions and approve the next year’s plans and budgets. We are trying to encourage our scholars from UK and Europe to participate in ISSJS 2009 also. A reception cum introductory function is organized at Oshwal Jain Center of London on Oct 11^th morning and at JVB Center in the evening of October 11. Many respected Jain community leaders and Academicians have been invited to these meetings.

 Dr. Shugan C. Jain delivered a lecture in Bangalore

 Dr. Shugan Jain presented a paper on Aspect of social engagements by Jains in The Fifth National Seminar on Faith based organizations and their social works/responses, organized by The Institute of Social Studies and Indira Gandhi National Open University from August 28th-31s 2008 at Bangalore. Besides presenting the paper, he also was one of the three resource persons to interact and respond with the attending scholars on the subject. More than 300 university scholars and professors engaged in social studies and works participated in this conference. As a result of this participation, Dr. Jain has been requested to present similar and related papers on a number of interfaith and academic conferences and meetings.  

 ISJS to organize one month program on Jain Academic studies in Bangkok in April 2009

 

We are indeed very happy to inform you that in principle arrangements have been made to have a month long summer school on Jain studies at a university in Bangkok in April 2009. Our representative there, Mr. Pramod Jain had been working very hard to see this happen. He had been nominating two scholars every year in last three years to our summer schools. Details will be announced soon.

 JAIN SCHOLARS DATA BASE READY

 

Mr. Yogendra Jain chairman Long range planning JAINA and ISJS commissioned Mr. Bobby Tarumi a student of University of Hawaii under the able guidance of Ms. Sarah Hadmack (an ISJS Academic council member, an alumni and teacher at the college) to set up a global database of Jain scholars. They have both completed the project and the same is available at http//www.JainLink.org/?page=JainScholarsDatabase. We sincerely thank both of them for their untiring effort to design and start this database. We request all of you to please visit the database and update details of known Jain scholars (or your own if you are a Jain scholar) to make this database up to date.    

 

After the departure of one month program candidates on June 30th, the schedule consisted of a series of lectures in Jaipur on subjects associated with philosophy and doctrines of Anekant. These academic sessions deliver by Prof. Kusum Jain, Prof Sogani and Prof Bhargava, the most recognized Jain scholars started from July 1st and lasted till July 5th.

The period July 5th till July 14th was planned for independent research work by the scholars to prepare a presentable paper to the fellow scholars on some topics related to their study in the school. Ms. Lynna Dhanani, Ms. Smita Kothari and Ms. Jennifer Lett chose to stay back in Jaipur and conduct their study under the supervision of Prof. Sogani; Mr. Gollner, Mr. Nominian, Mr. Acosta, Mr. Smith and Ms. Angellica, Ms. Yuneikys and Ms.Nicole decided to conduct their research at Parashnath Vidhyapeeth, Varanasi; Ms. Farah Siah, Ms. Daniela and Ms. Sonia chose Delhi while Prof. Gelburd decided to conduct the study in Mumbai and Ellora. At Varanasi, the school organized lectures by Prof. Tiwari and Prof. Samtani. Parashnath Vidhypeeth director Dr. Pandey and his research scholars assisted the ISSJS scholars in their academic pursuits. At Delhi, the candidates conducted field studies with the support of Director ISSJS on a need basis.

All the scholars returned to Delhi, Jain Mandir Chhoti Dadabari South Extension Part II for completing the remaining program. We had lectures by Prof. B.C. Bhaskar, Dr. Priyadarshana Jain, Dr. H.C. Jain in the first week of our program at Dadabari. In the afternoon special meditation classes were conducted by Swami Dharma Nandji at Dadabari. We also visited Acharya Shri Vijay Ratna SundarSuriji at Gujarat Vihar for an excellent discourse and discussions on various scholarly subjects.

The last week was planned for presentations by the scholars of their research work conducted. Some of the presentations, especially by Ms. Dhanani, Prof. Gail Gelburd and Mr. Nominian were very innovative and detailed. On July 23rd, all the scholars were invited by the director at his residence for dinner and distribution of completion certificates. It was an enjoyable get together for all. The last two days were spent at Hastinapur where we had academic lectures by Prof. Anupam Jain and Prof. P.N. Mishra along with special discourses, pujas by Ganani Pramukh Gyan Mati Mataji and Ganani Chandana Mati ji. The scholars also visited all the temples and Nasiaji at Hastinapur.

All the scholars returned home by 28th July except two who decided to take a short trip to Dilwara temples and Abu before returning home.

A Few Photographs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs of the program till 30th June 2008. Read more »