DEVOTION In Memory of Two Prominent Jain Scholars Dr. Hukum Chand Ji Bharill and Dr. Sanjeev Ji Godha By Rajendra Jain
Rajendra Jain is a JAINA Director and a trustee of the International Jain Sangh, NJ. He is CoFounder and CEO of Qmart International Inc. Prior to that he worked for 20 years with Bell Labs/AT&T. Raj has an eMBA from Wharton School of Business, PA and AT&T School of Business in Finance and Business Management. He is Information Section Editor of Jain Digest
(Editor’s Note: Within a short span of 37 days in the first quarter of 2023 the Jain community has lost two prominent Jain scholars from Jaipur, India – a torch bearer of Pujya Kanji Swami Dr. Hukum Chand Ji Bharill and his young disciple Dr. Sanjeev Ji Godha. They both were accomplished orators whose mission in life was to spread Bhagwan Mahavir’s message to the masses. In this article our Section Editor Rajendra Jain who personally knew both these luminaries very well, offers his heartfelt Shraddhanjali to them and educates us on their illustrious lives.)
Dr. Hukum Chand Ji Bharill Dr. Hukum Chand Ji Bharill was a world-renowned scholar of Jainism from Jaipur, India. He was an accomplished philosopher, thinker, teacher, orator, author, poet, journalist, administrator, visionary leader, a practitioner of Jain teachings, and a spiritual guide to thousands around the world. His unwavering dedication and zeal for promoting Jainism worldwide were commendable.
Dr. Bharill was born on May 25th, 1935, in the village of Barodaswami (District: Lalitpur, State: Uttar Pradesh, India). He had two brothers and one sister. He was married to Gunmalaben who wholeheartedly supported his mission of advancement of Jainism throughout his life. From a very early age he was an avid student of Jain philosophy and also started teaching others at the tender age of 14 years. In his early twenties, he met Pujya Kanji Swami and became his disciple. He was known as the “9th Ratna” of Kanji Swami. Quite often Kanji Swami spoke very highly of Dr. Bharill and appreciated his knowledge, dedication, and his various literary works.
Academic Accomplishments and Titles In his formal education Dr. Bharill got MA and Ph.D. degrees. His Ph.D. thesis was on the life of Pandit Todarmal ji; titled Pt.Todarmal Vyaktitva Aur Kartutva. Mangalayatan University honored him with a D. Lit degree. The degrees for his formal religious 11