The Institute of Jainology has launched their Jainpedia project: an online depository of digitised Jain texts from collections around the world. Helmed mainly by British Jains, the project aims to incorporate the numerous manuscripts held in British institutions, as well as those remaining in India.
Primarily targeted at academics, Jainpedia also hopes to make itself available to “millions”. In order to make texts in Sanskrit and Prakrit more accessible the texts will be ‘amplified’ with translations, commentary and audio-visual supplements. Ratilal Chandaria, Chairman of the Institute, explains
The resource will continue to develop by allowing users to blog their Jain experiences online and therefore weave their everyday practices into the richness of the UK Jain tapestry.
Jainpedia plans to launch to the public in late 2012 and I can only assume that all the talk of public availability means it will be free to access. Funding for the project included equal contributions from the Institute and the Heritage Lottery Grant.
Mansi Choksi ‘Religion reloaded‘, Times of India (25/10/09)
