Hindi Granth Karyalay is an Indian publishing house and specialized book store dealing in books pertaining to Jainology and Indology in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsha. It was established in Mumbai, India in 1912 by its founder Nathuram Premi. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on Indian religions, philosophy, history, culture, arts, architecture, archaeology, language, literature, linguistics, musicology, mysticism, yoga, tantra, occult, medicine, astronomy, astrology and other related subjects, and to date have published over 100 works of noted Indian and International authors and scholars.
History
Establishment
On 24 September 1912, Pandit Nathuram Premi founded the publishing house Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay (now known as Hindi Granth Karyalay) at C.P. Tank, Mumbai. It was to become the foremost Hindi publishing house in India and is also the oldest bookstore of Mumbai. Born on 26 November 1881 in Deori, in the district of Sagar in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Nāthūrām Premī was the eldest child of Tundelal Modi, a travelling merchant of modest means, belonging to the Paravāra community of Digambara Jains hailing from Bundelkhand. He arrived in Mumbai in 1901, and started working for the Digambara Jain Tīrthakṣetra Committee as a clerk. The owner of Hirabaug, Seth Manikchandra, impressed by his honesty, diligence and intellect asked the young Nāthūrām Premī to take up rooms at the Hirabaug Dharmashala at the heart of the Mumbai market and start his business from there. He accepted the offer and together with Pannalal Bakhliwal started the Jain Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay in 1906. From this humble beginnings, in 1912 he started the publishing house Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay.
Early history The first publication of Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay was a Hindi translation of John Stuart Mill's Liberty, titled Svādhīnatā translated by Pandit Mahaviraprasad Dvivedi. They published almost the entire oeuvre of Sharat Chandra Chatterji, the great Bengali writer and some works of Rabindranath Tagore, such as Ānkh kī Kirkirī, and Naukā Dūbī. Premiji also published Hindi translations of the Gujarati writer KM Munshi, such as Gujarāt ke Nāth and Pātan kā Prabhutva. Other famous works published include Munshi Premchand's classic novel, Godān and short story collections titled Nava Nidhi and Sapta Saroj. He also published works of then new writers such as Hajariprasad Dvivedi, Jainendrakumar, Yashpal, Acharya Chatursen, and Pandit Sudarshan. He also published the Bengali plays of Dvijendra Lal Rai for the first time in Hindi.
In memory of Seth Manikchandra, Premiji established the Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā wherein he published Jain scriptures, for the first time systematically edited by philologists. The Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā published over 48 Digambara Jain texts, mostly written in Prakrit, Apabhramśa or Sanskrit. He ran the Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā on an honorary basis between 1915 and the 1950s selling all the books at cost price. When his health began to fail, it was decided to hand over the series to Bhāratīya Jñānapītha in Varanasi.
Current management
Under Premiji’s tutelage, Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay became India's No. 1 publishers of Hindi literature. In recognition of his contributions to Indian literature, the acclaimed Hindi novelist Vishnu Prabhakar called Premiji the "Bhīsma Pitāmaha" of Hindi publishing. Premiji had suffered from asthma for a long time and died owing to old age on 30 January 1960. He left behind his daughter-in-law and two grandsons. His elder grandson, Yashodhar Modi, continued his legacy till his death in 2014, along with his son, Manish Modi. Now Hindi Granth Karyalay is being managed by Premiji's great grandson Manish Modi. In Premiji's memory, his grandson Yashodhar Modi has started the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series. This series has published select volumes focusing on subjects as varied as Jainism, philosophy and yoga and published original texts by ancient and medieval Jain ascetics such as Kundakunda, Samantabhadra, Pūjyapāda, Joindu, Prabhācandra, Vādirāja, Bhāvadeva and many others, usually accompanied by translation in either Hindi or English. Also, highly respected modern scholars such as Premiji himself, Prof. Ludwig Alsdorf, Prof. Maurice Bloomfield, Prof. Willem Bollée and Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj have been and are being published in the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series.
Bookstore Hindi Granth Karyalay's bookstore is located at 9 Hirabaug, C. P. Tank, Mumbai 400004. Besides housing its own published titles, Hindi Granth Karyalay also stocks, sells and distribute Indological literature of thousands of different titles.
Publications Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series
Jain Studies: Their Present State and Future Tasks {English} By Prof Dr Ludwig Alsdorf English tr. by Bal Patil Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 1 Published in 2006
In reprint
The Story of Paesi Based on the Rayapasenia Kaha {Prakrit text + English commentary} English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 2 Published in 2005
₹ 1200
Ratnakaranda Shravakacara {Sanskrit text + Hindi translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Samantabhadra Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 3 Published in 2006, 2006, 2012
₹ 50
Vyavahara Bhashya Pithika {Prakrit text + English commentary} English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 4 Published in 2006, 2012
In reprint
Samadhitantra {Sanskrit text + Hindi translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 5 Published in 2006, 2006, 2008, 2016
₹ 34
Atthapahuda {Prakrit text + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 6 Published in 2006, 2008, 2013
₹ 125
Tattvarthasutra {Sanskrit text + Hindi translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 7 Published in 2008
In reprint
Yogamrit : Yog Sahaj Jivan Vigyan {Hindi} By Mahavir Sainik Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 8 Published in 2006
Out of print
Paramatmaprakasha {Apabhramsha text + Hindi translation} Apabhramsa text by Acarya Joindu Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 9 Published in 2007
In reprint
Yogasara {Apabhramsha text + Hindi translation} Apabhramsa text by Acarya Joindu Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 10 Published in 2007, 2009
₹ 30
Dhyanastava {Sanskrit text + Hindi translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Bhaskaranandi Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 11 Published in 2007
In reprint
Dhyanashataka {Prakrit text + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Jinabhadragani Kshamashramana Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Published in 2007, 2009 Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 12
In reprint
Barasa Anuvekkha {Prakrit text + Sanskrit translation + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda Sanskrit tr. & Hindi gloss by Pt. Nathuram Premi Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 13 Published in 2010
₹ 50
Ishtopadesha {Sanskrit text + Hindi translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 14 Published in 2007, 2009, 2013
In reprint
Life and Stories of the Jain Saviour Parshvanatha {English} An English tr. of Acarya Bhavadeva's Parshvacaritram by Prof Dr Maurice Bloomfield Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 15 Published in 2008
In reprint
Tattvasara {Prakrit text + English translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Devasena English tr. by Manish Modi Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 16 Published in 2013
In reprint
The Apabhramsha of Svayambhudeva’s Paumacariu {English} By Dr Eva de Clercq Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 17 Published in 2010
₹ 180
Jainism and the Definition of Religion {English} By Dr Piotr Balcerowicz Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 18 Published in 2009
₹ 50
Dravyasamgraha Compendium of Substances {Prakrit text + English translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra English tr. by Prof Dr Nalini Balbir Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 19 Published in 2010, 2013
₹ 50
Tattvarthasutra {Sanskrit text + Hindi & English translations} Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj, English tr. by Anish Shah Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 20 Published in 2012
₹ 30
Rayanasara {Prakrit text + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 21 Published in 2011
₹ 50
Jainism: An Eternal Pilgrimage {English} By Bal Patil Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 23 Published in 2008, 2011
In reprint
Dravyasamgraha {Prakrit text + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 24 Published in 2009
₹ 30
Parshvanathacaritram Sanskrit text by Acarya Vadiraja Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 25
In press
Parshvacaritram: The Life of Parshva {Sanskrit text + English translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Gunabhadra English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 26 Published in 2008
₹ 60
Jain Sahitya aur Itihas {Hindi} By Pt. Nathuram Premi Published in 1942, 1956
In reprint
Understanding Jainism {English} By Prof Dr Lawrence A. Babb Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 27 Published in 2016
₹ 250
Tales of Atonement Stories from Malayagiri's Commentary on the Vyavahara Bhashya {Prakrit text + English translation} English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 28 Published in 2008
₹ 300
A Handbook on the Three Jewels of Jainism THE YOGASHASTRA OF HEMACANDRA A 12th Century Jain Treatise on Yoga {Sanskrit text + English translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Hemacandra English tr. by Prof Dr Olle Qvarnström Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 29 Published in 2012, 2012, 2012, 2012, 2013, 2013
₹ 700
Samayasara {Prakrit text + Hindi translation} Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda Hindi translation by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 30 Published in 2012, 2012
₹ 80
Dhyanabattisi 32 Steps to Liberation {Braj text + English translation} Braj text by Banarasidas English tr. by Jerome Petit Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 31 Published in 2010
In reprint
Tattvarthasutra Aspects of Reality in Jainism, through the Eyes of a Scientist {Sanskrit text + English translation & gloss} Sanskrit text by Acarya Umasvati English tr. and commentary by Dr Duli Chandra Jain Preface by Prof Padmanabh S. Jaini Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 32 Published in 2012, 2013
₹ 600
Svarupa-Sambodhana Right Instruction on the Nature of the Soul {Sanskrit text + English translation & gloss} Sanskrit text by Acarya Akalanka English tr., notes and introduction by Nagin J. Shah Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 33 Published in 2011
₹ 50
Tattvajnana Dvatrimshika {Sanskrit text + English translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Siddhasena Divakara English tr. by Manish Modi Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 34 Published in 2013
₹ 20
Three Prakrit Grammars {Sanskrit text + English translation & gloss} By Saartje Verbeke Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 35 Published in 2010
₹ 300
Ishtopadesha Beneficial Teachings {Sanskrit text + Gujarati tr. + English translation} Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada Gujarati tr. by Pravina Mehta, English tr. by Manish Modi Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 36 Published in 2010, 2013
₹ 20