Two great scholars from Bikaner - who spent their life for indology, jainology, art, culture, heritage and Indian traditions

1. BIOGRAPHY OF
GREAT SCHOLARS OF
BIKANER FROM THE
MID OF THAR DESERT
OF RAJASTHAN
by : Trilok Kumar Jain
jain.tk@gmail.com
9414430763
SHRI AGAR CHAND NAHATA
(19/3/1911 ...20/1/1983)

2. Son of Shri Shankar Dan Nahata and
Chunni Devi Nahata, he was a great
scholar of Indology and a great writer
also. Shri Agarchand ji used to
encourage everyone to read books.
He used to encourage people to read
and write. He had converted the
front room into his office, where he
used to read and write books
throughout the day. He used to lead a
very simple and academic life. The
total number of published articles of

3. Shri Agar Chand Nahata is more than
5000 in over 150 magazines and
periodicals. A large number of his
articles are still unpublished.
SHRI BHANWAR LAL NAHATA
(19/9/1911 -- 11/2/2002)
Son of Bherudan Nahata and Teeja
Devi Nahata, Shri Bhanwar Lal Nahata
is one of the greatest scholars on

4. Apbransh language of our times, Shri
Bhanwar Lal Nahata had a passion for
literature, art, culture, ethos and
Indology. He was one of the greatest
Indologists of our times. He together
with Shri Agar Chand Nahata
collected over 60000 handwritten
manuscripts, which are rare. The two
have together contributed immensely
to Indian literature particularly on
Indology, Jainology, Rajasthani
language, Art and heritage.
Expertise in different languages :
Shri Nahata had expertise in Sanskrit,
Pali, Apbransh, Gujarati, Rajasthani,
Bengali, Kharoshti, Brahmi and

5. Avhatti. He translated ancient Indian
literature from these languages into
Hindi. The total number of published
articles of Shri Bhanwar Lal Nahata is
more than 3000 in over 100
magazines and periodicals. A large
number of his articles are still
unpublished.
Shri Agar Chand Nahata was real
uncle (younger brother of Bherudan
Nahata) of Bhanwar Lal Nahata. Both
these scholars have received wide
recognition all over India for their
great contribution to literature and
heritage. Both these scholars

6. promoted library movement and
reading habits in Bikaner. Both these
scholars had converted their homes
into almost libraries and they have
encouraged people to read books,
magazines and articles. Both these
scholars themselves didnt have any
high academic degrees, but they
were invited for PH.D Viva as experts
and many scholars completed their
Ph.D. under their scholarly guidance.
Both these scholars were invited by
different universities all over India as
expert speakers and whenever there
was any doubt, they were referred as
experts and their answers were

7. considered final dictum. Both these
scholars were source of reference
and guidance for many premier
institutions including L.D. Institue of
Indology Ahmedabad. Both these
scholars invested their entire life for
following cause : -
a. they promoted indology
b. they have set up Abhay Jain
Granthalaya (a rare collection of over
80000 manuscripts relating to
Indology, heritage, Jain philosophy,
Rajasthani literature etc.) and they
have collected a personal musueam
on Rajasthani Heritage

8. c. they have promoted Rajasthani
language, art and heritage
d. they have promoted research on
our traditions, art, culture, practices,
and rituals.
e. they have promoted library
movement - due to their efforts many
libraries flourished in Bikaner
f. they have tried to preserve rich
heritage of Rajasthan.
g. they encouraged many researchers
and scholars and helped them in their
research process. The famous
researcher from Italy Mr. Tessitory
spent his entire life in their guidance

9. and was able to find treasures of
literature with these two scholars.

10. and was able to find treasures of
literature with these two scholars.