Sukhlal Sanghvi (1880 – 1978) also known as Pandit Sukhlalji was a Jain Scholar and Philosopher. He belonged to the Sthanakvasi sect of Jainism. Pandit Sukhlal lost his eyesight at the age of sixteen on account of small-pox. However, he overcame this handicap and became profoundly versed in Jain logic and rose to become a professor at Banaras Hindu University. Paul Dundas calls him as one of the most incisive modern interpreters of Jain philosophy. Paul Dundas notes that Sanghavi represents what now seems to be a virtually lost scholarly and intellectual world. He was a mentor for famous Jain scholar Padmanabh Jaini. During his lifetime he won such awards as the Sahitya Akademi Award and won recognition from the Government of India by getting Padma Bhushan award. Sukhlalji was also known as Prajnacaksu because he was so vastly learned despite being visually challenged.
Sukhlalji was born in the village of Limbdi, Saurashtra, Gujarat on 8th December 1880 (fifth day of the bright day of the month of Margshersh in V.S. 1937). Panditji was a Gujarati from Visa Shrimali Vanik community (merchant community). Sanghvi Talshi and his first wife Maniben were his parents. His mother expired when he was four years. He passed his childhood in Limbdi under the care of his distant relative Shri Mulji Kaka of Sayla in absence of his mother. At the age of sixteen he lost his eyesight due to an attack of small-pox. This made him more introspective and he devoted his life to learning.
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