Cataloguing of Manuscripts
The IoJ has pioneered in fundamental research into the subject of manuscriptology by having created a catalogue of the manuscripts in the British Library, UK. Preparatory work on cataloging the Jain Manuscripts at both the Wellcome Trust and the Oxford University’s Bodelian Library has also been completed.
To complement the cataloguing project, the IoJ digitized manuscripts from most of the major UK institutions. See our JAINpedia website and read more about it.
Catalogue of Manuscripts of the British Library
The project to create the catalogue was undertaken by the Institute in 1991, and Professor Chandrabhal Tripathi, of Berlin University was chosen to lead the project. Unfortunately Professor Tripathi passed away within two years of starting the project, however, Professor Nalini Balbir of Sorbonne University, Paris agreed to undertake the task and was assisted by Dr Kanubhai Sheth and Dr Kalpnaben Sheth from Ahemdabad, India. In 2002, the Institute made a presentation of the project to the then Prime Minister of India, Shree Atal Behari Vajpayee who not only agreed to become the Patron-in-Chief of the Project but also granted a sum of Rs two crore to the project.
Launch of the catalogue
On 27th May 2006, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh launched the three volume catalogue at the prestigious Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. In attendance were His Excellency the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India, Sir Michael Arthur, the Union Minister for Tourism & Culture Smt. Ambika Soni and several Jain dignitaries from all over India representing all Jain sects.
Launch of the catalogue in the UK
The International launch of the catalogue took place on 15th May 2007 at Buckingham Palace, London, by H R H The Duke of Edinburgh. This event was attended by H E the High Commissioner of India, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, the Chief Editor of the Catalogue, Prof. Nalini Balbir, Mr Ronald Milne, Director of Scholarship and Collections, The British Library, representatives of the Interfaith community and many Jain organisations in the United Kingdom. The catalog is available for purchase from the British Library.
