Where faith found its printer!
In a quiet lane of Gorakhpur stands a press that has, for over a century, printed not merely books but ‘faith’. Gita Press, founded in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyanka and Ghanshyam Das Jalan, began with a simple yet profound purpose to bring sacred Hindu texts to the common man in his own language at an affordable price. What started as a modest act of devotion soon grew into a cultural movement that shaped the spiritual vocabulary of modern India.
During a time when knowledge of the scriptures was mainly held by scholars and priests, Gita Press made divinity more accessible, especially the Hindu scriptures. The Bhagavad Gita, Ramcharitmanas, and Upanishads were no longer restricted to temples or academic circles; these religious texts and books started reaching even the simplest homes due to their affordable prices and easy-to-understand Hindi translations of the scriptures and their commentaries.
I remember reading my earliest Hindu scriptures printed by Gita Press. For many, as I did in my early years, there may be confusion between Gita Press, based in Gorakhpur, and Gorakhpur Press; they are not the same entity. Gorakhpur Press is more of a generic term used by publishing houses or printing presses located in that city.
Gita Press Trivia
The idea of Gita Press was born in 1923, after its founder, Jaya Dayal Goyanka, suffered a deep personal crisis and turned to the Bhagavad Gita for solace. Finding peace in its verses, he resolved to make the Gita and other sacred texts affordable and accessible to every Indian home.
Gita Press is believed to be one of the largest publishers of religious books in the world. It has printed over 70 crore copies of Hindu scriptures and literature in more than 15 Indian languages at a very affordable price.
The founders insisted that spiritual knowledge should never be commercialised, and the Press continues that tradition by keeping prices remarkably low, even in the digital age.
Kalyan Magazine Has Never Missed an Issue
Since its first issue in 1927, Kalyan, the spiritual monthly published by Gita Press, has never missed a single month of publication, even during wars, natural calamities, or the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Kalyan magazine and Gita Press publications do not carry advertisements; a policy rooted in their belief that commercial interests should not intrude upon sacred or moral messages.
The monthly magazine Kalyan became a close companion for millions, providing reflections on virtue, morality, and the ideal way of life. During an age of industrial and political upheaval, the steady rhythm of printing machines in Gorakhpur quietly signalled a continuity of civilisation. Gita Press has digitised many older issues (pre-2001) and made them freely accessible online.
Yet, as time progressed, Gita Press became more than just a guardian of faith. Through its publications, it fostered a devotional awareness that subtly shaped social and political ideas. It spoke of Dharma, but also of duty; of family values, but also of identity. Scholars like Akshaya Mukul, in his book Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India, trace this significant ideological influence.