In a proud moment for India’s academic and literary communities, Shri Rajaram Jain, a 94-year-old scholar of classical Indian languages and literature, has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his outstanding contributions to Literature and Education.
Shri Jain overcame early personal hardships—including the loss of both parents—to pursue a career in the study and preservation of ancient Indian texts. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University, he spent more than six decades teaching and researching languages such as Prakrit, Apabhramsha, Sanskrit, and Pali.
Shri Jain served as the head of the Prakrit and Sanskrit Department at Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah, Bihar, where he played a pioneering role in the revival and critical study of forgotten and rare literary works from Jain and other classical traditions.
His notable achievements include the editing and translation of ancient manuscripts, including Sirival Chariu, Jony Pahud, and a comprehensive 16-volume compilation of the 14th–15th-century Jain poet Raidhu’s works. His deep engagement with Jain literature earned him the title “Jain Itihas Ratna” as early as 1974.
In 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Certificate of Honour, and in 2018, he received the Colette Caillat Foundation Award from the Institut de France for his academic excellence in Prakrit studies.
Reacting to the Padma Shri honour, Shri Rajaram Jain humbly dedicated the award to his mentors, colleagues, and especially to his wife, Prof. Vidyawati Jain, who supported his literary pursuits throughout their life together.
Shri Rajaram Jain’s Padma Shri award stands as a testament to the power of scholarship, endurance, and cultural devotion. His legacy not only preserves India’s classical literature but also inspires generations of language and philosophy scholars across the country.
