The authorities, who have already received an amount of Rs 11,00,000 from Sankalchand Doshi of the Mumbai for the purpose, intend to conduct the classes at the General Auditorium of the university.

Talking about the programme, Co-ordinator R I Nanvati said that age would not be a bar for those interested to join the course, which would be inaugurated by the chancellor of the university on October 13.

According to Nanvati, the course had been restricted to three months so that students could have enough time to learn about the life and teachings of Mahavir. The course would primarily be designed on the lines of an academy already established in Mumbai, he added.

There were plans to introduce these courses in various other universities of the state and later at certificate, diploma, graduate, post-graduate and research-levels too, he said Seminars and lectures on the subject would be held and a library of Jain manuscripts created for the purpose, he said.

``There are similar academies even outside the country where the teachings of Mahavir are taught to the students,'' he added.