Dr. Sunita Jain

Ms. Sunita Jain is the first Jain lady writer, honoured for her outstanding contribution in literature. She has been writing both in Hindi &  English for last forty years & has 60 books to her credit as novels, short stories, poetry & critics etc. She retired recently after serving as professor in IIT & is actively involved in number of projects & institutions. She is also known for her English translations of many writings by Jain Muni like Guptisagar Maharaj.

Bio - Data

A Dialogue With Mrs. Sunita Jain

By  Mr. Rajesh Jain

1). You are awarded Padamshree for this year how do you find relevance of being so different?

a). Being a Jain has helped me in knowing what I am, knowing who I am and this gave me self esteem and confidence in my worth. The award confirms that the values I believed in were the right ones.

2). You are the first lady writer from Jain Community to receive this honour which has come due to your writings in Hindi & English what is the influence of Jainism on your writings, how this religion has inspired you?

a). Hard work and truthfulness were two of virtues I learnt from my mother. That worldly goods are not our ultimate goal I was told by Mr. A. K. Jain ( Retired Income tax Commissioner) who is my maternal brother. These and other Jain influences made me the woman I am. My writing is a reflection of what I believe in my self.

3). You have been writing a lot about women old & young, specially the mother what are your plans in future?

a). Only future can tell what future has for me. In the mean time I remain prepared for my next spell of creative movement.

4). You are socially so active in addition to your creative writings? Rather you have been associated with renowned Jain muni like  Kshamasagarji & Guptisagarji could you tell us how these great personalities have influenced you?

a). A Jain Muni to me is a symbol of what can be achieved by human being. A Muni's giving up all worldly aspirations and wealth, his great tapa humble me constantly. Every time I am meat them I feel like giving up some more of my desires.

5). Could you name some more writers from Jain community & about their work, whom you feel are promising & transpires  you? specially with reference to our book ' Vaishalik Ki Chhaya Mein' ?

a). Most Jain woman writers like Mridula Garg and Manu Bhandari and others have given books lasting values. We can learn a lot from Jainendra Kumar. The sad thing however, is that most Jain house holders don't even know these names. They don't care to keep a good library or read. There is no pride in these for us.

6). Your many characters are with foreign background? You yourself have been spending most of the year regularly in America how do you feel the change of the environment between India & USA?

a). Most of my characters are only from the Indian background. Some of them are NRI's. I was the first Hindi writer to write about their problems and earnings. My long stay in the USA helped me in knowing their suffering and joys.

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Information Source : Mr. Rajesh Jain, E-Mail : rajesh49@indiatimes.com

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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