Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar (1892–1971), the multi-faceted personality was a freedom-fighter, author, editor, orator, poet, linguist, and a publisher. He achieved excellency in all these field of activities even though he had very little formal schooling. He edited and published the spiritual monthly journals "Kalyāṇ" in Hindi (1927) and "Kalyāṇ Kalpataru" in English (1934) and these magazines still continue to be in circulation with more than 250,000 membership!!! He set up the Gita Press at Gorakhpur (UP) to publish books on Hinduism and Indian tradition. He spread the knowledge contained in the Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gītā, Rāmāyaṇa (both Vālmikī and Tulsīdās) the Mahābhārata and abridged versions of the Purāṇas, etc. by translating the texts into Hindi/English and bringing out low cost editions to be within the reach of everyone. He will not tolerate even a single spelling mistake if found out after the print and will see that it is corrected with pen in all those millions of copies!!! All the bound volumes are still clothed in khādi.
Personally I too am one who has derived immense benefit through these Gita Press low cost but high standard editions. I still preserve all those volumes which I read, learned and studied, in my personal grantha-kośa (library).
My Śraddhāñjali unto you,
Sri Poddarji
for whatever great
that I have acquired through your authentic editions.
that I have acquired through your authentic editions.
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| प्रणमामि |
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| The FDC |
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