An eminent writer and journalist, Lakshmi Chandra Jain (b.1909–d.1999) made significant contributions to India's literary and cultural landscape.
Born in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, L.C. Jain completed his Bachelor's degree in Sanskrit language at Hindu College (1930) and earned his Master's degrees in Sanskrit (1932) and English (1934) from Delhi University. Fluent in Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Urdu, Bengali, and Gujarati, his literary repertoire included a diverse range of poems, essays, and reflective pieces of literary criticism. His unique style established him as a notable voice in Indian literature.
L.C. Jain's career began at All India Radio, where he made history by delivering the first-ever Indian running commentary on the solar eclipse in 1934 from Kurukshetra. He later joined the Bharat Insurance Company in Lahore as a Publicity Officer (1938-1941), before moving to Rohtas Industries in 1944 as Manager. However, he was deeply connected to the Bharatiya Jnanpith, where he served as Editor of the literary series Gyanodaya. His contributions shaped the institution, and he eventually became its Secretary, helping to broaden its cultural and literary scope.
L.C. Jain played a crucial role as the ex-officio Member-Secretary of the Selection Board for the prestigious Bharatiya Jnanpith Annual Literary Award. His leadership extended to several other cultural and literary organizations, including serving as President of the All-India Hindi Publishers Association and Sahayogi Hindi Prakashan. He was also actively involved with the Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology, and Ahimsa in Vaishali.
Besides this, L.C. Jain was an accomplished author, with significant works such as Kaghaz ki Kishtiyan (1960), Naye Rang Naye Dhang (1961), and Antardvandon ke Paar: Gommateshvra Bahubali (1979). His contributions to literature were further enriched by his wife, Smt. Kuntha Jain, who was an accomplished author. In 1974, Jain traveled to Europe to study Jainology, further enhancing his contributions to India's cultural and literary landscape.
In his last years, L.C. Jain was working on a historical novel about Kharavel and a comprehensive history of the Bharatiya Jnanpith.
About the Collection: The papers of Lakshmi Chandra Jain have been donated by his daughter Sheena Jain. The collection contains articles by him on various subjects including Jainism, handwritten notes, plays, writings on Mahadevi Verma, and papers related to the Kharvel Project. The collection also contains material related to the book Nepathya Nayak: Lakshmi Chandra Jain, translation of poems by Octavio Paz, participation of Lakshmi Chandra Jain in Jnanpith Award Function and other events. There is correspondence with Aruna Asaf Ali and others, personal diaries, photographs, academic letters of recommendations, obituaries, and short biographies of Lakshmi Chandra Jain. Interviews with him, writings on him, and about him also form part of the collection.
Donor: Indu Jain
Acquisition: 2024