India, April 26 -- As repositories of culture and legacy, museums play an important role. While some institutions may be dedicated to the preservation of historical objects and artefacts, others carry the weight of presenting a community and preserving its traditions for times immemorial. The brand new Samrat Samprati Museum of Jain Heritage in Koba, Gujarat designed by SJK Architects, does so with respect to promoting the Jain values and ideals of ahimsa (non-violence), austerity, and restraint. It recently opened to public, having been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The museum is named after Samrat Samprati, who was the grandson of Ashoka. He is revered in the Jain tradition owing to his commitment to non-violence and propag...