Editor Carla Geerdes
27.06.2008
Lunch time!
The two months program students of International Summer School for Jain Studies stayed in Vidhya Sansthan Jaipur. Dr. Shugan Chand Jain, director of ISSJS had proposed to meet there. It was after lunch when I arrived. Fortunately the students, organisers, and lecturers still were present in the big dining hall in the first floor what provided the occasion to me to meet all together.
Meeting Prof. Sogani at cafeteria of Jain Vidya Sansthan.
Meeting Justice N. K. Jain at cafeteria of Jain Vidya Sansthan.
Prof. Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani, director of Vidhya Sansthan, Justice N.K. Jain, and Shri N.K. Sethi had some obligations after lunch, and therefore I first talked to them. Prof. Sogani was happy to meet a member of the HereNow4U team, as we had published some of his articles included in the study material of ISSJS. Justice N.K. Jain showed 3 of his articles on very relevant subjects to me & spontaneously gave his consent to publish them in HereNow4U. Then he had to rush away for lecture. His lecture only was given the day we met. I had the impression to have chosen the right day.
N. K. Sethi, President of Digamber Jain Atishaya Shri Mahaveerji Jaipur
Shri N.K. Sethi spoke to me on the efforts all involved institutions had made for proper accommodations, food & water for the students. I could imagine that this was no easy task. They all cooperated in realising the idea to bring Jain culture near to American students. The majority of them never before had been to India.
Sonia Sheikh from Kanada has been for one year in Berlin & speaks perfect German!
Suddenly I was addressed in German language! Sonia Sheikh from Canada perfectly speaks German. She has learned it during her one-year high school stay in Berlin. I was too perplexed in the first moment to respond to Sonia. But then I asked how it came that she was there. She had a gap of two months between two jobs that she used for studying a culture until unknown to her. She feels very much inspired by Jain values & Dharma.
Yuneikys Villalonga curator of Contemporary Art & Pavel Acosta artist from Havanna, Cuba.
Sonia introduced her friends from Cuba to me. They were very happy for the inspirations out of Jain studies to their artists’ creativity.
Dr. Anne Valleley is coordinator of Ottawa University.
Dr. Anne Valleley coordinator of University of Ottawa was a bit in a hurry, as she had to get her plane in very short time after our meeting. Her time in India was over for this turn; she had to return to Ottawa University.
Dr. Shugan C. Jain, founder of ISSJS, honouring Dr. Anne Valleley, coordinator of University of Ottawa
Before she left, there was a surprise waiting for her. Dr. Shugan C. Jain honoured & thanked her for the big efforts she had taken to integrate Jain studies into the program of Ottawa University. Dr. Jain feels very happy to bridge Jain culture with western academic tradition at locations where the roots of Jain culture still are alive.
Prof. Sogani showing archives with manuscripts.
Namely Jain Vidhya Sansthan has a big archive with old manuscripts they try to preserve. Once the traces of decay were visible in the old manuscripts, a program was elaborated to remove them. A combination of modern technology with meticulous handicraft is the result.
Preservation process of damaged manuscripts
Preservation process of damaged manuscriptsWhat an afternoon! Shivani came & picked me up& all of us then relaxed.