German Language Course At JVBI - [15] - All Is Well That Ends Well!

Like 27 days ago, we were sitting on the stage, but now it was for the farewell function. Unlike the first time, I was able to connect most of the faces in the audience with a name. Even those members of the university were present, to whom I have got acquainted during my stay: Professor Gaur and Dr. Mishra from the Science of Living, Preksha Meditation, and Yoga department, Sandeep Kumar Bothra and Prakash Singh Tanwar of computer department, as well as PhD candidate Yogesh Jain who would be my attendance to Jaipur.

I had talked a lot with the students during the past four weeks, and even started to communicate with some of them after three weeks. That much it took to make them self-confident enough for communication. Now the majority of them was gathered for my farewell, their votes of thanks and to receive their certificates. Rajesh Jain, a student of the computer department, was ready to document the event with my camera. Thanks for this, Rajesh.

As she had done in the opening function, Mamta Jain soulfully recited a song composed by Acharya Tulsi in her beautiful voice. I really felt ceremonious. Shobha Chopra compered the function, and she addressed me in behalf of the students. She said that they were happy that I had come along from Germany to work with them. I especially enjoyed her smile and the view from her eyes when she looked at me. 

Three Samanijis, Rohini, Sheyan, and Shukla Pragya performed a humorous sketch, based on an idea by Samani Shukla Pragyaji. The audience was highly amused, and I admired the humoristic talents shown by the Samanijis. At the end, they succeeded in inciting the audience to say the weekdays in German language.

Sketch By Samani Rohini Pragya, Samani Shukla Pragya, Samani Shayan Pragya

One Samani, one Mumukshu, two PhD candidates, and Dr. Dhar gave their speeches:

Speeches by
Mumukshu Alpa
Dharini Jain
Pooja Sharma
Dr. Anil Dhar

Finally, vice-chancellor Samani Mangal Pragya gave her view:

I gave my vote of thanks, and especially pointed out how motivated the students had followed the lessons. This farewell function was held in a cheerful mood.

The certificates were handed over to the representatives of Samanijis, Mumukshus, students, and college girls, who immediately distributed them to the participants:

I was awarded a white shawl, and further was gifted a collection of books on Jain philosophy published by the university.

Dr. Mishra awards a white shawl to Carla Geerdes

Samani Pratibha Pragya gifts books published by JVB University in English language to Carla Geerdes

Samani Pratibha Pragya presented a collection of books in English language to me.

VC Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya gifts logo of JVB University to Carla Geerdes

Madamvice-chancellor handed over a special present to me, a bronze sculpture of theuniversity’s emblem.

We then gathered in the courtyard for a group photo..

Group photo with VC Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya (m) & Carla Geerdes (on her r) Group photo with VC Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya (m) & Carla Geerdes (on her r) Group photo with VC Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya (m) & Carla Geerdes (on her r)
Group photos

Before taking leave, Samani Mangal Pragya gave the details on how Acharya Tulsi, some hours before he left this world in June 1997, had asked her to make possible a German language course at Jain Vishwa Bharati University. About hundred years ago, a German scholar had edited, published, and translated ancient scriptures from Prakrit into German language. With these publications, the scholar had proved that Jainism is a religion and philosophy on its own, and no offspring of Hinduism or Buddhism, as was supposed by most scholars in those days.

More than ten years ago, nobody would have believed that Samani Mangal Pragya one day will be vice-chancellor of the university, and one guest student of Indology in professor Hiltrud Rüstau’s seminar at Berlin’s Humboldt-University would give a German language course at JVB University. Professor Rüstau’s doctoral advisor had been professor Walter Ruben, whose doctoral advisor had been Herrmann Jacobi, the German scholar who had laid the foundation for giving back an own identity to the followers of Mahavira through his research...

When I was about to get into the car heading for Jaipur, Dharini Jain and Rajesh Jain asked me for a photo together in front of the university building. Will we meet again?