Ganganath Jha

Sir Gaṅgānāth Jhā (25 December 1872 – 9 November 1941) was a scholar of Sanskrit, Indian philosophy and Buddhist philosophy. He was also a paṇḍit of Nyāya-Śāstra.

Ganganath Jha
Born25 December 1872
gandhwari(Pandaul), Madhubani, Bihar
Died9 November 1941
Prayagraj, India
OccupationSanskrit scholar
Spouse(s)Rukmini Devi

Early life

Ganganath Jha was born in a Maithil Brahmin family of the gandhwari village of Madhubani district of Bihar.he He was first taught using the Persian script then, when his family moved to Benares when he was aged seven, he learned Sanskrit. In 1880, he returned to his relatives in Darbhanga and was admitted to an English medium school. In 1886, after completing his school education, he returned to Benares for further studies and was admitted to the Government Sanskrit College there. He received his MAMaster of Arts degree in Sanskrit with first rank in 1892.

Service

At the age of 24, he was appointed a librarian of the Darbhanga state by its Maharaja. In 1902, he was appointed a Professor of Sanskrit at Muir College in Allahabad, which he left in 1918 to become the first Indian principal of the Government Sanskrit College in Benares. Between 1920–1923 he served as a member of the Council of State in the Central British Government of India.[1]

He was vice-chancellor of University of Allahabad (Prayag University) during 1923–32. The University of Allahabad established the Ganganath Jha Hostel in his honour.[2][3][4]

Honors and awards
  • D. Litt, 1900
  • Mahāmahopādhyāya, 1901
  • Member, Council of State (1920–1923)
  • Campbell Medal, Royal Asiatic Society, London
  • Honorary Member, Royal Asiatic Society, London
  • Knight Bachelor, 1941 Birthday Honours List[5]

Literary work

Sir GN Jha written numerous books and translated many Sanskrit books into English.[6][7]

Books authored
  • The Prabhakar school of Purva-Mimansa, Allahabad University, 1911.
  • Kavi Rahasya, Hindustan Academy Press, Prayag.
  • Nyaya Prakash, Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Benares, 1920.
  • Vaisveshik Darsha, Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Benares, 1921.
  • The Philosophical Discipline, Calcutta University, 1928.
  • Sources of Hindu law, Indian Press, Allahabad, 1930.
  • Hindu Vidhi Ka Srota, Patna University, 1931.
  • Shankar Vedant, Allahabad University, 1939.
  • Purva-Mimansa in its sources, Banaras Hindu University, 1942.
  • Yoga Darshana, Theosophical Society, Madras.

Books translated
  • Chandogyopanishad, G.A. Nelson & Co., Madras, 1899.
  • Yoga-Darsana, Theosophical Publication, Bombay, 1907.
  • Gautam ka Nyaya Sutra, Oriental Book Agency, Poona, 1913.
  • The Purva-Mimansa Sastra of Gemini, Pāṇini office, Allahabad, 1916.
  • Sloka Vartika, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, 1924.
  • Tantra-Bhasa, Oriental Book Agency, Poona, 1925.
  • Manusmriti, in five Volumes, Calcutta University, 1920–1926.
  • Yoga Sar Sangrah, Oriental Book Agency, Poona, 1931.
  • Tattvasamgraha of Shantarakshita, (in two Volumes), Baroda Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1936.
  • Shabarbhasya, (in three Voumes), Baroda Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1939.

Books edited
  • Memansa Nyaya Prakash, 1904.
  • Gautam Ka Nyayasutra, Oriental Book Agency, Poona, 1931.
  • Nyayadarshana, Coukhamba Sanskrit Series, Benares, 1925.
  • Jyant Bhatt ki Nyayakalika, Sanskrit Bhavan Texts, Benares, 1925.
  • Mimansa Paribhasha, Medical Hall Press, Benares, 1905.
  • Bhavana Vivek, Govt. Press, Allahabad, 1922.
  • Mimansa Mandan, Coukhamba Sanskrit Series, Benares, 1929.
  • Manusmriti, Asiatic Society, Bengal.
  • Tantra Ratna, Sanskrit Bhavan Texts, Benares, 1930.
  • Vad vinod, Indian Press, Allahabad, 1915.
  • Khandan Khanda Khadya, Coukhamba Sanskrit Series, Benares, 1914.
  • Purush Pariksha, Veledeiyer, Allahabad, 1911.
  • Kadambari, Sanskrit Bhavan Texts, Benares.
  • Prasanna Raghav Natan, Sanskrit Bhavan Texts, Benares.
  • Meghdootam, Sanskrit Bhavan Texts, Benares.

Disciples

Notable children

Ganganath Jha Research Institute

In 1945, after his death, his five sons established the Ganganath Jha Research Institute in Allahabad. The institute publishes books and journals on oriental studies, as well as producing a journal. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Ganganatha Jha Campus), formerly known as Ganganath Jha Research Institute (from 1943–1971) and Ganganatha Jha Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (from 1971–2002 under the Ministry of HRD, Government of India) was founded on 17 November 1943 with a view to perpetuate the name and works of M. M. Dr. Sir Ganganatha Jha (b. 1871 & d.1941), an International figure of Orientology and Indology.[8] This is the research training centre of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan from 2016–2017.[9]

References
  1. Autobiographical notes of Dr. Ganganath Jha, Ganganath Jha Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Allahabad
  2. "Ganganath jha was VC of University of Allahabad" Archived 7 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. UoA's official web page say
  3. “Ganganath Jha Hostel”. Reference of Ganganath Jha Hostel from J K Institute, Allahaabad University web page
  4. “This hostel is in the list of University of Allahabad Hostel” Archived 4 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Its presence in Hostel's list of Allahabad University
  5. The London Gazette, 12 June 1941
  6. A. B. Keith, History of Sanskrit Literature, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi.
  7. A. A. Macdonell and A. B. Keith, Vedic Index of names and subjects, Choukhanba Vidya Bhavan, Benares, 1962.
  8. "Ganganath Jha Research Institute (Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan)" Archived 26 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. In 1945, after his death, his five sons established the Ganganath Jha Research Institute now called Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan
  9. http://www.gnjhacampusrsks.org
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