Times of India
Moodbidri, Nov 12: The scholars and universities should work towards identifying the contribution of Kannada language to the intellectual literature in the country, said former chief minister and Central Administrative Reforms Commission chairman M Veerappa Moily.
He was speaking at the two-day national seminar on ‘Jainism in South India’ organised by Kannada University-Hampi in association with the Alva’s Education Foundation and Shree Dhavala Mahavidyalaya in Moodbidri near here on Saturday.
Jains enjoy the credit of developing literature, both philosophical and materialistic, in the regional languages especially Prakrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. A comparative study of the ancient Jain literature in Kannada would help to introduce the world to the Kannada language and culture. Also, the genesis of several Jain literary works possibly lies in Sanskrit or Prakrit languages and the revaluation of these literary works should be undertaken through a comprehensive study.
Unlike Hinduism, Jainism has the 5,000-year-old documented records which are sources for reconstructing history. He described Jainism as the most rationalist religion.
Moodabidri Jain Mutt seer Sri Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Panditacharya Swami said historians and scholars should come forward to conduct research in over 4,000 ancient manuscripts in the archives of Jain Mutt.
It is believed that Jains took birth in north India, but their existence in the South is old. The Tamil literary works written 2,000 years ago speak about Jainism.
Former professor of Bangalore University H P Nagarajaiah said Jains played a key role in every face of time in the history. The Jain monks freed the human beings from the vicious circle of caste and language and helped the development of a holistic culture in the south. Out of the 89 Tamil inscriptions of the 4th century BC, 85 are Jain records, he said.
The University has signed a MoU with the universities of other southern state to conduct a coordinated research in the history and culture of South India.