The
Systems
of
Indian
Philosophy
By
V. R. Gandhi, B.A.,
M.R.A.S.
Barrister-at-Law
Edited By
Dr. K. K. Dixit
Research Officer
L. D. Institute of
Indology
Ahemdabad
Shri Mahavira Jaina
Vidyalaya
Bombay 400 036
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
It was really a happy
coincidence that a manuscript of a hitherto unpublished wok of Shri
Virchand Raghavji Gandhi was discovered in his birth‑ place, Mahuva (Saurashtra),
and that too in his centenary year. In his centenary your 1964, Shri
Chandulal Vardhman Shah, one of us and Shri Kantilal Dahyabhai Kora,
Registrar of Shri Mahavir Jaina Vidyalaya along with a past student
Shri Pannalal R. Shah visited Mahuva. Their intention behind the visit
was to collect from his birth‑ place the available material that can evoke
the sacred memory of that eminent scholar and effective speaker. And we
should say that the visit proved to be a pilgrimage. There they discovered
and obtained certificates, writing, a silver casket and a gold medal along
with two note‑books containing the present lectures in his own
hand‑writing. It is really fortunate for us that these two note‑ books
have been saved from destruction during a rather long period of 63 years
even after the death of that scholar.
We handed over the note‑
books for perusal to Pt. Shri Dalsukhbhai Malavania, Director of Shri
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Bharatiya Sanskriti Vidyamandir and one of General
Editors of Jains Agama Series along with Pujya Shri Punyavijayji Maharaj.
While reading them, he found that they contained Shri V. R. Gandhi's
illuminating lectures on the systems of Indian Philosophy. It is these
lectures which Shri V. R. Gandhi delivered before American audience in
attractive and popular style. Fearless and frank presentation of the
subject‑ matter is the special feature of these lectures. Thus the present
work containing them is really invaluable and the first of its kind. Hence
we are very happy that it is published by our Institution.
It was very difficult to
edit them critically on the basis of a handwritten manuscript and to print
them in their pristine form. But the cooperation extended by Shri Lalbhai
Dalpatbhai Bharatiya Sanskriti Vidyamandir, Ahmedabad, made our task very
easy. Vidyamandir allotted the work of editing the lectures to Dr. K. K.
Dixit, a scholar of many subjects and especially of philosophy. Dr. Dixit
has taken great pains in carrying out the work successfully. We express
our gratitude to the management of Vidyamandir for extending active
cooperation. And we heartily thank Dr. Dixit for critically editing these
lectures and for writing an elaborate thought‑provoking introduction to
the present work.
The evaluation of the
present work, and its author has been made by Dr. Dixit in his impartial
and scholarly introduction as also by Dr. Pt. Sukhlaji in his `Something
About Late Shri V. R. Gandhi.' We know that one of the Factors that
inspired him to write it, is his admiration for Shri V. R. Gandhi's
academic activities. The original Gujarati of this English note is
included in this work in order that the reader can have the benefit of
reading Panditji's thoughts in his own words.
The late Shri Umedchand
Dolatchand Barodia, a close associate of Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya
for over 40 years, had assigned to the Institution his endowment paid‑up
insurance policy of Rs. 2,000/‑ in 1963 with a request to utilize the
amount when realized for publications activities, as may be suggested by
his two sons, Shri Shantibhai and Shri Kantibhai. On his death three years
later, the two devoted sons who are past students of this Institution
suggested that the insurance money may be utilized in the publication of
the present book, whose author, Shri V. R. Gandhi was held in high esteem
by their father as an outstanding representative of India at the Congress
of World Religions in America and for his learned lectures in America and
Europe. This suggestion coincided well with the devotion in which he held
knowledge and religion.
Shri Umedchandbhai was
born in Chuda, Saurashtra, in 1883 A.D. and was brought up in a atmosphere
of education and culture. His father Shri Dolatchandbhai was one of the
first Arts Graduates of the Bombay University and was the author of a
number of books. Having such a laudable legacy of culture and knowledge,
Shri Umedchandbhai had a distinguished career both at school and college.
He won a University prize, besides being a Dakshina Fellow at Gujarat
College, Ahmedabad. He started his early career as a school- teacher,
which he continued with zeal and admiration for nearly twenty years. After
leaving the sphere of education, he became the Assistant Secretary of the
Bombay Stock Exchange, which he continued till 1940, when he felt an urge
to retire and have a spiritual solace. Later, he spent some years in
religious studies and meditation at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Agas along
with his wife, who was a source of great inspiration in all his
activities. After the death of his wife, he left Agas and returned to
Bombay at the persuasion of his sons, a proposition, which he never
cherished. He died at Bombay at the age of 83 on 11th February 1969.
During his stay in Bombay,
Shri Umedchandbhai held in high esteem Acharya Shri Vijiyavallabhsuri,
Whose Services to the cause of education, social welfare and Jainism has
but few parallels in our history. This ideal brought him closer to Shri
Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya. Besides being a religious teacher and
examiner of the students of Vidyalaya, he was member of managing
Committee for many years. Vidyalaya remained his life‑long interest
and the progress of Vidyalaya was always near and dear to his
heart.
The outstanding feature of
his life was that he was a deeply religious man and was a devoted student
of Jaina history, philosophy and literature. Education, devotion to duty,
social service and spiritual practice were the strong attachments
sustaining his life. He was the author of some books including the History
and Literature of Jainism, besides contributing various articles to
various journals. He edited also `Tarun Jain' and `Jain Herald' for some
time.
The spontaneous help
received from such a religious person in the publication of the present
valuable work on philosophy is specially noteworthy and commendable.
Dr. N. J. Shah has
corrected the proofs. And again it is he who has prepared the three useful
indices. We express our sincere thanks to him. At last, our thanks are due
to the Mouj Printing Bureau for the excellent printing.
August Kranti Marg CHANDULAL
VARDHMAN SHAH
(Gowalia Tank Road)
JAYANTILAL RATANCHAND SHAH
Bombay‑
26 BALCHAND G. DOSHI
14‑1‑1970. Hon. Secretaries.
