In Memorium: Dr. Hiralal Jain

Summary

Jyoti Prasad Jain’s obituary honours Professor Hiralal Jain (1902–1973), a leading figure in modern Jain scholarship. The author describes Hiralal as an erudite teacher, linguist and editor who popularised the study of Apabhraṃśa language and literature and integrated it into university curricula. Born into a Digambara Jain family, he was educated at the University of Allahabad, where he earned an M.A. in Sanskrit and studied law before becoming a research scholar. As an inmate of the Jain Hostel at Allahabad he founded the Jain Hostel Magazine with other residents, signalling an early interest in disseminating Jain studies. In 1925 Hiralal joined the Provincial Educational Service and became a lecturer at King Edward College, Amraoti, where he served for twenty‑five years. His scholarly achievements include the catalogue of Jain manuscripts in the Kāraṇḍa collection, the multi‑volume Jain Śilālekha Saṃgraha (1928 onward) and critical editions of texts such as the Dhavalā commentary of Śrīdhara Senā, the Sat‑khaṇḍāgama and numerous Prakrit works. He was instrumental in editing and translating the Dhavalā commentary and bringing Apabhraṃśa literature to a wider academic audience. Hiralal mentored a generation of scholars and, with colleagues such as Dr A. N. Upadhye, helped establish a rigorous, scientific approach to Jain philology. Later he became the first Director of the Prakrit and Jain Research Institute at Vaishali and served as editor of several Jain journals and publication series. He continued his research after retiring, publishing articles on the date and authorship of the Dhavalā and producing bibliographic surveys. The author notes his humility, generosity and perseverance and concludes by expressing hope that Hiralal’s students will keep his scholarly torch burning despite the void left by his death.