Jain Bhawan: Its Aims and Objects

Summary

Founded in 1945 in Calcutta’s Burrabazar district, Jain Bhawan was established by leading members of the Jain community to preserve, study and propagate Jain philosophy. Its “Aims and Objects” statement sets four goals: to assert the greatness of Jainism through reason and new knowledge; to develop intellectual, moral and literary pursuits within society; to teach Jainism to the people; and to encourage research on Jain religion and philosophy. In pursuit of these goals, the institution has grown into a multi‑faceted centre of education, culture and scholarship. The Bhawan runs Jain Shikshalaya, a school affiliated with the West Bengal Board that combines secular instruction with moral education. Around 550 students and 25 teachers participate, and moral values form an integral part of the curriculum. Recognising the need for practical skills, the Bhawan organises vocational and physical classes in tailoring, stitching, embroidery, fine arts, judo, karate and yoga. These programmes are open not only to students but also to local women, thereby empowering the wider community and promoting physical well‑being. To encourage intellectual growth, the Bhawan maintains a well‑equipped library that houses more than 10,000 books on Jainism and its literature and about 3,000 rare manuscripts. It subscribes to over 100 journals and periodicals from different parts of the world and compiles catalogues of rare books for researchers. Publishing is another pillar of the institution. The English‑language “Jain Journal” and the Bengali‑language “Sramana” have been issued regularly for over three decades and are edited by scholars; they have won acclaim as key channels for the propagation of Jain philosophy in West Bengal. The Bhawan also produces the Hindi journal “Tithayara” and books such as translations of the Bhagavati Sūtra. To foster dialogue, Jain Bhawan organises seminars and symposia on Jain philosophy, literature and the Jain way of life, inviting eminent scholars to deliver lectures and encouraging exchange of ideas. It awards scholarships to researchers and operates a research wing called the Jainology and Prakrit Research Institute. In February 1998 the Bhawan opened a computer training centre to achieve self‑reliance in education and to connect with educational organisations worldwide. By teaching programming, graphics and internet skills it helps propagate Jain values through digital channels. These activities demonstrate Jain Bhawan’s mission to be, in its own words, a “centre of religious harmony” and to spread Jain values of non‑violence, cooperation and humanism while providing modern facilities that empower the community and support global study of Jainism