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{{Short description|Publishing house on Sanskrit and Indology in Delhi, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
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| successor = Banarsidass Jain
| successor = Banarsidass Jain
| country = [[India]]
| country = [[India]]
| headquarters = A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi - 110028
| headquarters = A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110028  
| distribution = Worldwide
| distribution = Worldwide
| keypeople = Rajendra Prakash Jain (Chairperson)
| keypeople = Rajendra Prakash Jain & Varun Jain
| publications = [[Motilal Banarsidass#Publications|See list]]
| publications = [[Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House| [https://www.mlbd.in Browse]]]
| topics = [[Indology]], [[Sanskrit]]
| topics = [[Buddhist studies|Buddhology]], [[Indology]], [[Oriental studies]], [[Sanskrit]]
| genre =
| genre =
| imprints =
| imprints =
| revenue =
| revenue =
| numemployees =
| numemployees =
| url = [http://www.mlbd.co.in]
| url = {{website|https://www.mlbd.in}}
}}
}}


'''Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House''' ('''MLBD''') is a leading Indian publishing house on [[Sanskrit]] and [[Indology]] since 1903, located in [[Delhi]], [[India]]. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on [[Eastern religions|Asian 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 25,000 works.<ref name=cente/>
'''Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House''' ('''MLBD''') is an Indian [[Academic publishing|academic publishing house]], founded in [[Delhi]], [[India]] in 1903. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on [[Eastern religions|Asian religions]], [[Buddhist studies|Buddhology]], [[Indology]], [[Eastern philosophy]], [[history]], [[culture]], [[arts]], [[architecture]], [[archaeology]], [[language]], [[literature]], [[linguistics]], [[musicology]], [[mysticism]], [[yoga]], [[tantra]], [[occult]], [[medicine]], [[astronomy]], and [[astrology]].<ref name=cente/>


Its noted publications are the 100 volumes of the [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapuranas]], [[Sacred Books of the East]] (50 Volumes) edited by [[Max Müller]]; Bibliotheca Buddhica (30 Volumes in 32 pts); [[Ramcharitmanas]] with Hindi and English translation, the [[Manusmriti]] in ten volumes and the Sanskrit lexicon, and ''Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies'' (7 volumes). It also brings out books based on research and study conducted at organisations such as the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]] (ICHR), [[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] (IGNCA), and [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]] (ICCR).<ref name=tr/><ref name=sas/> It has a turnover of approximately Rs 5–6 crore, roughly 75% coming from exports.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/100-years-on-the-spiritual-trail/articleshow/13997472.cms 100 years on the spiritual trail] TNN, [[The Times of India]], 24 June 2002.</ref>
Amongst its publications are the 100 volumes of the [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapuranas]]; the 50 volumes of the ''[[Sacred Books of the East]]'', edited by [[Max Müller]]; ''Bibliotheca Buddhica'' (30 volumes in 32 pts); [[Ramcharitmanas]] with Hindi and English translations; the [[Manusmriti]] in 10 volumes and the Sanskrit lexicon; and the 7 volumes of ''Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies''. It also brings out books based on research and study conducted at organizations such as the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]] (ICHR), [[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] (IGNCA), and [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]] (ICCR).<ref name=tr/><ref name=sas/> It has a turnover of approximately {{INR}} 5–6 crore, roughly 75% coming from exports.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/100-years-on-the-spiritual-trail/articleshow/13997472.cms 100 years on the spiritual trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113144425/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/100-years-on-the-spiritual-trail/articleshow/13997472.cms |date=13 November 2012 }} TNN, [[The Times of India]], 24 June 2002.</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Motilal goethean.jpg|thumb|left|290px|Motilal Banarsidass Shop in [[North Delhi]]]]Motilal Banarsidass Publishers was first established in [[Lahore]] in 1903 by Lala Motilal Jain, a descendant of the family of court jewellers to [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] in Amritsar. Motilal borrowed Rs. 27 from his wife's savings that she had earned from her knitting work, to start a bookshop selling Sanskrit books in 'Said Mitha Bazar' in Lahore. He named it after his eldest son Motilal Banarsidass Jain, who later took charge of the publishing business. [[File:Motilal goethean 2.jpg|thumb|200px|The interior of Motilal Banarsidass, in Delhi]]In 1911, MLBD opened a branch at Mai Sewan Bazar, [[Amritsar]], under the supervision of Lala Sundarlal Jain, another son of Lala Motilal Jain, though after the untimely death of Lala Banarasidass in 1912, Sundarlal Jain, his only surviving brother had to close this establishment and relocate to Lahore to look after the family business. Soon he was joined by his young nephew Shantilal Jain, who had just finished school, who eventually became the company's chairman. Soon a printing unit was also set up and the publishing house was established.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22766253_ITM Indologists urge studying past] Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 23 March 2003.</ref>
[[File:Motilal goethean.jpg|thumb|left|290px|Motilal Banarsidass Shop in [[North Delhi]]]]
 
Motilal Banarsidass Publishers was first established in [[Lahore]] in 1903 by Lala Motilal Jain, a descendant of the family of court jewellers to [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] in Amritsar. Motilal borrowed {{INR}} 27 from his wife's savings that she had earned from her knitting work, to start a bookshop selling Sanskrit books in 'Said Mitha Bazar' in Lahore. He named it after his eldest son Motilal Banarsidass Jain, who later took charge of the publishing business. [[File:Motilal goethean 2.jpg|thumb|200px|The interior of Motilal Banarsidass, in Delhi]]In 1911, MLBD opened a branch at Mai Sewan Bazar, [[Amritsar]], under the supervision of Lala Sundarlal Jain, another son of Lala Motilal Jain, though after the untimely death of Lala Banarasidass in 1912, Sundarlal Jain, his only surviving brother had to close this establishment and relocate to Lahore to look after the family business. Soon he was joined by his young nephew Shantilal Jain, who had just finished school, who eventually became the company's chairman. Soon a printing unit was also set up and the publishing house was established.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22766253_ITM Indologists urge studying past] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308092231/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22766253_ITM |date=8 March 2012 }} Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 23 March 2003.</ref>


In 1937, a branch was started in Patna at the suggestion of [[Rajendra Prasad]]. Subsequently, during the [[Partition of India]]  a riot burnt down the Lahore shop. Post independence, the family moved to India and initially stayed at [[Bikaner]] and Patna, before moving to Varanasi in 1950, where it set up shop in 1951, and finally shifted base to Delhi in 1958. Today it is one of the few large publishing houses in the world which has its own in-house printing unit.
In 1937, a branch was started in Patna at the suggestion of [[Rajendra Prasad]]. Subsequently, during the [[Partition of India]]  a riot burnt down the Lahore shop. Post independence, the family moved to India and initially stayed at [[Bikaner]] and Patna, before moving to Varanasi in 1950, where it set up shop in 1951, and finally shifted base to Delhi in 1958. Today it is one of the few large publishing houses in the world which has its own in-house printing unit.


In 1992, Shantilal Jain was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Govt. of India]], the first ever Padma award for outstanding community service through publishing.<ref name=sas>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080218042247/http://www.sasnet.lu.se/books.html#motilal Motilal Banarsidass] SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network, [[Lund University]], [[Sweden]]</ref> Today Shantilal's eldest son Narendra Prakash Jain, widely known as 'Prakash' and his four brothers and their sons, along with their mother, Leela Jain, who is the company's Chairperson, run the business.<ref name=cente>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031002154912/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/13/stories/2003031300610300.htm A 100-year romance with books] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 13 March 2003.</ref><ref name=tr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050101152151/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503350900.htm Treasure trove of Indology] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 5 November 2004.</ref>
In 1992, Shantilal Jain was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the government of India, the first ever Padma award for outstanding community service through publishing.<ref name=sas>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080218042247/http://www.sasnet.lu.se/books.html#motilal Motilal Banarsidass] SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network, [[Lund University]], [[Sweden]]</ref> Today Shantilal's eldest son Narendra Prakash Jain, widely known as 'Prakash' and his four brothers and their sons, along with their mother, Leela Jain, who is the company's Chairperson, run the business.<ref name=cente>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031002154912/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/13/stories/2003031300610300.htm A 100-year romance with books] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 13 March 2003.</ref><ref name=tr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050101152151/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503350900.htm Treasure trove of Indology] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 5 November 2004.</ref>


In 2003, the company celebrated its centenary at a function in [[Chennai]], where [[Kanchi matha|Kanchi]] Sankaracharya, [[Jayendra Saraswathi]], honoured three Sanskrit scholars: R. Balasubramaniam, B.M.K. Sharma and K.V. Sharma.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031223234051/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/17/stories/2003091710400500.htm At the function held to mark the centenary of the Motilal Banarsidass], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 17 September 2003.</ref> At a function held at [[Bangalore]], [[Governor of Karnataka]], [[T.N. Chaturvedi]], felicitated [[centenarian]] [[Sudhakar Chaturvedi]], S.M.S. Chari, and B.K. Krishnamurthy of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] for their contribution to Indology, and eminent [[astrologer]] [[Bangalore Venkata Raman|B.V. Raman]] was honoured posthumously.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031027143904/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091400160500.htm Publishing house celebrates centenary] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 14 September 2003.</ref>
In 2003, the company celebrated its centenary at a function in [[Chennai]], where [[Kanchi matha|Kanchi]] Sankaracharya, [[Jayendra Saraswathi]], honoured three Sanskrit scholars: R. Balasubramaniam, B.M.K. Sharma and K.V. Sharma.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031223234051/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/17/stories/2003091710400500.htm At the function held to mark the centenary of the Motilal Banarsidass], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 17 September 2003.</ref> At a function held at [[Bangalore]], [[Governor of Karnataka]], [[T.N. Chaturvedi]], felicitated [[centenarian]] [[Sudhakar Chaturvedi]], S.M.S. Chari, and B.K. Krishnamurthy of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] for their contribution to Indology, and [[astrologer]] [[Bangalore Venkata Raman|B.V. Raman]] was honoured posthumously.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031027143904/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/14/stories/2003091400160500.htm Publishing house celebrates centenary] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 14 September 2003.</ref>


==Shops==
==Shops==
Its main office in New Delhi is at A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi - 110028. It houses Indological literature of around 30,000 titles.<ref>[http://www.india9.com/i9show/Motilal-Banarsidass-Publishers-59946.htm Motilal Banarsidass]</ref>
Its main office in New Delhi is at A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110028. It houses Indological literature of around 30,000 titles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Motilal-Banarsidass-Publishers-59946.htm |title=Motilal Banarsidass |access-date=21 August 2009 |archive-date=14 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914164055/http://www.india9.com/i9show/Motilal-Banarsidass-Publishers-59946.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==
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*''Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology'' (English translation of the Mahapuranas, 79 Volumes already published);
*''Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology'' (English translation of the Mahapuranas, 79 Volumes already published);
*''Buddhist Tradition Series'', edited by Alex Wayman (30 Volumes);
*''Buddhist Tradition Series'', edited by Alex Wayman (30 Volumes);
*''MLBD Series in Linguistics'', edited by Dhanesh Jain (10 Volumes);
*''MLBD Series in Linguistics'', edited by [[Dhanesh Jain]] (10 Volumes);
*''Lala Sundar Lal Jain Research Series'' edited by Dayanand Bhargava (10 Volumes already published).
*''Lala Sundar Lal Jain Research Series'' edited by Dayanand Bhargava (10 Volumes already published).
*''Advaita Tradition Series'' by Shoun Hino & K.P. Jog (8 Volumes already published);
*''Advaita Tradition Series'' by Shoun Hino & K.P. Jog (8 Volumes already published);
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.mlbd.in/ Motilal Banarsidass, Website]
* [https://www.mlbd.in Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House, Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050101152151/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503350900.htm Treasure trove of Indology ] at ''[[The Hindu]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050101152151/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110503350900.htm Treasure trove of Indology ] at ''[[The Hindu]]''
* [http://wikimapia.org/10812921/Motilal-Banarasidas-Publishers Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi] ''[[wikimapia]]''.


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 15:45, 22 November 2025


Motilal Banarsidass
Founded1903 (1903)
FounderMotilal Jain
SuccessorBanarsidass Jain
Country of originIndia
Headquarters locationA-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110028
DistributionWorldwide
Key peopleRajendra Prakash Jain & Varun Jain
Publication types [https://www.mlbd.in Browse]
Nonfiction topicsBuddhology, Indology, Oriental studies, Sanskrit
Official websitewww.mlbd.in

Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House (MLBD) is an Indian academic publishing house, founded in Delhi, India in 1903. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on Asian religions, Buddhology, Indology, Eastern philosophy, history, culture, arts, architecture, archaeology, language, literature, linguistics, musicology, mysticism, yoga, tantra, occult, medicine, astronomy, and astrology.[1]

Amongst its publications are the 100 volumes of the Mahapuranas; the 50 volumes of the Sacred Books of the East, edited by Max Müller; Bibliotheca Buddhica (30 volumes in 32 pts); Ramcharitmanas with Hindi and English translations; the Manusmriti in 10 volumes and the Sanskrit lexicon; and the 7 volumes of Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies. It also brings out books based on research and study conducted at organizations such as the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).[2][3] It has a turnover of approximately 5–6 crore, roughly 75% coming from exports.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Motilal Banarsidass Shop in North Delhi

Motilal Banarsidass Publishers was first established in Lahore in 1903 by Lala Motilal Jain, a descendant of the family of court jewellers to Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Amritsar. Motilal borrowed 27 from his wife's savings that she had earned from her knitting work, to start a bookshop selling Sanskrit books in 'Said Mitha Bazar' in Lahore. He named it after his eldest son Motilal Banarsidass Jain, who later took charge of the publishing business.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The interior of Motilal Banarsidass, in Delhi

In 1911, MLBD opened a branch at Mai Sewan Bazar, Amritsar, under the supervision of Lala Sundarlal Jain, another son of Lala Motilal Jain, though after the untimely death of Lala Banarasidass in 1912, Sundarlal Jain, his only surviving brother had to close this establishment and relocate to Lahore to look after the family business. Soon he was joined by his young nephew Shantilal Jain, who had just finished school, who eventually became the company's chairman. Soon a printing unit was also set up and the publishing house was established.[5]

In 1937, a branch was started in Patna at the suggestion of Rajendra Prasad. Subsequently, during the Partition of India a riot burnt down the Lahore shop. Post independence, the family moved to India and initially stayed at Bikaner and Patna, before moving to Varanasi in 1950, where it set up shop in 1951, and finally shifted base to Delhi in 1958. Today it is one of the few large publishing houses in the world which has its own in-house printing unit.

In 1992, Shantilal Jain was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India, the first ever Padma award for outstanding community service through publishing.[3] Today Shantilal's eldest son Narendra Prakash Jain, widely known as 'Prakash' and his four brothers and their sons, along with their mother, Leela Jain, who is the company's Chairperson, run the business.[1][2]

In 2003, the company celebrated its centenary at a function in Chennai, where Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi, honoured three Sanskrit scholars: R. Balasubramaniam, B.M.K. Sharma and K.V. Sharma.[6] At a function held at Bangalore, Governor of Karnataka, T.N. Chaturvedi, felicitated centenarian Sudhakar Chaturvedi, S.M.S. Chari, and B.K. Krishnamurthy of Hyderabad for their contribution to Indology, and astrologer B.V. Raman was honoured posthumously.[7]

Shops[edit | edit source]

Its main office in New Delhi is at A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110028. It houses Indological literature of around 30,000 titles.[8]

Publications[edit | edit source]

  • Sacred Books of the East (50 Volumes) edited by Max Müller (reprints, originally Oxford University Press);
  • Indian Kavya Literature by A. K. Warder (10 Volumes, 7 Volumes already published);
  • History of Indian Philosophy by S.N. Dasgupta (5 Volumes);
  • Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India by Ram Sharan Sharma (Fifth revised edition, 2005)
  • Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order Down to Circa A D 600 by Ram Sharan Sharma (Third Revised Edition, Delhi, 1990; Reprint, Delhi, 2002)
  • Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology (English translation of the Mahapuranas, 79 Volumes already published);
  • Buddhist Tradition Series, edited by Alex Wayman (30 Volumes);
  • MLBD Series in Linguistics, edited by Dhanesh Jain (10 Volumes);
  • Lala Sundar Lal Jain Research Series edited by Dayanand Bhargava (10 Volumes already published).
  • Advaita Tradition Series by Shoun Hino & K.P. Jog (8 Volumes already published);
  • Performing Arts Series edited by Farlay P. Richmond (7 Volumes already published).
  • Wisdom of Sankara Series by Som Raj Gupta (2 Volumes published);
  • Kalamulasastra Series (21 Volumes published).
  • Bibliotheca Buddhica (30 Volumes in 32 pts) ed. Sergey Oldenburg, Fyodor Shcherbatskoy, (reprints, originally St. Petersburg)
  • Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies (25 Volumes already published).
  • Also many Sanskrit Grammar books by SC Vasu, MR Kale; Dictionaries by MM Williams, Apte.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 A 100-year romance with books The Hindu, 13 March 2003.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Treasure trove of Indology The Hindu, 5 November 2004.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Motilal Banarsidass SASNET - Swedish South Asian Studies Network, Lund University, Sweden
  4. 100 years on the spiritual trail Archived 13 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine TNN, The Times of India, 24 June 2002.
  5. Indologists urge studying past Archived 8 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 23 March 2003.
  6. At the function held to mark the centenary of the Motilal Banarsidass, The Hindu, 17 September 2003.
  7. Publishing house celebrates centenary The Hindu, 14 September 2003.
  8. "Motilal Banarsidass". Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.

External links[edit | edit source]