Jaina Seminar at Calcutta—A Report
By Kalyan Mal Lodha
Summary
K. M. Lodha’s report documents a day‑long seminar on Jainism organised by the Eastern Zone Committee of the Bhagawan Mahavira 2500th Nirvāṇa Mahotsava Samiti and held in Calcutta on 15 December 1973. Presided over by Professor Mrityunjaya Banerjee with Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain as working president, the seminar urged scholars to propagate Jainism’s message of non‑violence and truth. Dr. C. C. Sarkar surveyed Jain art across India and emphasised the need to preserve Jain temples and monuments. Professor K. C. Lalwani discussed the Jain theory of motion and rest and compared Jain views on the self‑moving soul with Western notions of force and matter. Professor S. K. Saraswati analysed the sarvatobhadra motif in architecture, tracing how four‑sided Tīrthaṅkara images influenced temple design beyond Jain circles. Professor Govinda Gopal Mukhopadhyay presented a philosophical paper on the Jain conception of the self as an eternal, conscious substance. Dr. A. K. Bhattacharyya provided an illustrated survey of Jaina iconography, and Dr. A. K. Chakravarti explored socio‑economic conditions reflected in early Jaina canonical literature, stressing regional diversity and the absence of caste distinctions. Participants emphasised the practical relevance of Jain teachings and supported the publication of the seminar papers. Lodha concludes that the seminar, which brought together scholars from diverse disciplines, was unique in its scope and played a vital role in promoting Jain studies.
Conclusion
The Calcutta seminar illustrates the breadth of contemporary Jain scholarship. Papers ranged from art history and architecture to philosophy, physics and socio‑economic history, revealing how Jainism intersects with multiple disciplines. Speakers praised the religion’s emphasis on non‑violence and rational inquiry and highlighted its relevance to heritage conservation and scientific understanding. The organisers’ intention to publish the papers underscores a commitment to disseminating Jain studies beyond academic circles. Overall, the report shows that collaborative scholarly forums play a vital role in preserving and revitalising India’s Jain heritage.