Dr. Balaji Ganorkar
The 18th All India Summer School on Prakrit language, literature & Manuscriptology was held at B. L. Institute of Indology, Delhi from 21st May to 11th June 2006. The Valedictory Function of the three weeks All India Summer School on Prakrit Language, Literature & Manuscriptology was held at Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology, Delhi, on 11th June 2006. There were about 49 students for the primary as well as advanced courses from universities and other institutions all over India. The eminent scholars of India gave a very condensed and extensive course to them on Prakrit Language, Literature and Manuscriptology.
Scholars at the Valedictory Function
Prof. Vachaspati Upadhyaya, V.C. of Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth was the Chief Guest and Shri Champak Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of HRD, New Delhi and Prof. Alexander Von Rospatt of University of California were the Guests of Honour. After formal beginning of the function with invocation, the Vice-Chairman of BLII, Shri N. P. Jain introduced and welcomed the distinguished guests while Shri Raj Kumar Jain; Secretary General of Vijay Vallabh Smarak, gave introduction about the activities of the Smarak. The Officiating Director of BLII, Dr. Balaji Ganorkar spoke about the Institute, Summer School and the future plans. He made formal declaration of the formation of Alumni Association of the students of Prakrit Summer School, so that they can meet at least once a year and discuss on following matters:
Reading of Prakrit MSS, Editing of the Prakrit Texts, Critical Study of the Prakrit Texts, Scholarships / Financial assistance may be provided to needy scholars, Interactions among people related with studies of Prakrit and allied topics viz. Faculties, Researchers in Prakrit and various organizations and agencies.
Dr. Balaji, author of this article, giving details of action plan
Dr. Balaji also intimated about the holding of an International Seminar on Yogic Traditions of India with special reference to Jainism on 7 th to 9 th December this year in India International Centre, New Delhi under the by BLII.
Prof. S. R. Banerjee, the Convenor of the Summer School presented a vivid account of the course, its importance and standard before the audience and expressed happiness for his association with the Summer School and the BLII for the past 18 years. Later on, few of the students gave their encouraging observations and felt happiness to come here with no cost of their own. Remarkably, it was BLII, which made arrangements for their boarding/lodging and travelling to & fro.
In this programme, prizes were given away to the students who stood first, second and third in the examination by the Chief Guest as well as the Guests of Honour. The First Prize of Rs.2100/- to each student in Advance and Elementary courses in Prakrit Language & Literature were sponsored by Jaswanta Dharmarth Trust and the Second and Third Prizes of Rs.1100/- and Rs.500/- respectively were sponsored by Enkay Charitable Foundation. Three prizes of Rs.2100/-, 1100/- and 500/- were also awarded by BLII in Manuscriptology Course.
Champak Chatterji addressing the audience
Shri Champak Chatterji made a very encouraging remark about the discovery of the past and the value system. He stressed the need of Prakrit studies and also appreciated the efforts being made by the BLII. Prof. Rospatt was of the opinion that if the Summer School can be announced well in advance, students from his University and other Universities of America can also participate and have the privilege of studying Prakrit language which will be of immense help to them. He stressed the importance of Prakrit, Pali and Sanskrit language among which Prakrit is a natural language because the common man was using it in the earlier centuries. He appreciated the works of SCHUBRING and JACOBI, which have been translated from German into English and are outstanding works on Jainism. He also appreciated the efforts being made by BLII, to disseminate the knowledge of Prakrit language and literature.
Deven Yashwant (r) presents bouquet to prof. Upadhyaya
Lastly, Prof. Vachaspati Upadhyaya gave the Valedictory Address in which he spoke about the SAMAYAK GYAN, DARSHAN, CHARITRA and accordingly SAMANJASYA, SAMATA, SHEEL VRITIs etc and connected them with each other. He spoke about his vast experience of 45 years in the study of Sanskrit and how it is interconnected with Prakrit. He requested the students not to neglect the Prakrit language and pursue their career in this field. Everyone applauded his speech. Finally, on behalf of Lal Bahadur Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth he gave an offer to BLII to join hands for singing an MOU for conducting advance courses for the study of Prakrit language & literature in Delhi. The Function ended with Lunch hosted by Vijay Vallabh Smarak.