About this stamp
Early Life and Education
Dr. Jagdish Chandra Jain was born in 1909 in Baseda, a small village in Uttar Pradesh. He lost his father in childhood, and his family faced poverty and hardship. Despite these challenges, he received his early education through traditional Pathshala and Gurukul systems. Later, he pursued higher studies in Sanskrit, Jain literature, and Ayurveda at Banaras Hindu University.
Participation in Freedom Movement
In 1929, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Jain left his studies and joined the Satyagraha Movement. His dedication to nationalist ideals shaped much of his later life and work.
Academic Career
Dr. Jain later joined Visva-Bharati University as a research scholar, where he came into close association with Rabindranath Tagore. This experience deepened his appreciation of India’s rich cultural heritage.
He began his teaching career in Ajmer but resigned when objected to for wearing the Gandhi cap. Later, he served as Professor of Hindi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit at Ramnarain Ruia College for over three decades.
Role in Historic Events
In 1948, Dr. Jain served as the Chief Witness in the Gandhi Murder Trial held at Red Fort.
International Contributions
In 1970, he was invited as Guest Professor to the Department of Indology in Kiel, Germany, where he worked for four years. In 1980, he visited Brazil to deliver lectures on Indian philosophy. His book Jainism was also translated into Portuguese.
Literary and Scholarly Achievements
Dr. Jain was a world-renowned authority on Jain studies and Prakrit languages and literature. He authored more than 80 books along with numerous research articles.
Awards and Recognition
He received many prestigious honours, including:
- Soviet Land Nehru Award
- Uttar Pradesh Government Award
- Jnan Bharati Award
- Ahimsa International Award
Commemoration
The Department of Posts was pleased to issue a special commemorative postage stamp in honour of Dr. Jagdish Chandra Jain.
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