India has never lacked saints and sages, but many of them have indulged in a lavish lifestyle, conducting spiritual discourses for corporate houses, releasing audio and video content, organizing grand processions, publishing magazines with their names and photos, and buying airtime on television channels to promote themselves. However, even if all these saints and sages were to come together, they could not take the place of the founder of Gita Press Gorakhpur, the karmayogi Late Hanuman Prasad Poddar.
Today’s generation may not even be aware of the immense contribution of Hanuman Prasad Poddar, a spiritual luminary who played a pivotal role in ensuring that sacred Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Vedas, and Puranas reached every household in India. His efforts were unparalleled in propagating Sanatan Hindu culture.
The Legacy of Gita Press Gorakhpur
There are very few Hindu families across the world who are unfamiliar with the name Gita Press Gorakhpur. The credit for bringing scriptures such as the Ramayana, Gita, Vedas, and Upanishads to the masses belongs solely to Bhaiji Hanuman Prasad Poddar, the founder of Gita Press. He remained away from self-promotion and dedicated his life as a humble servant and selfless karmayogi, tirelessly working to spread Hindu spiritual traditions.
Born according to the Vikram Samvat calendar in the year 1949 on Ashwin Krishna Pradosh, this year his birth anniversary falls on Saturday, October 6.
Hanuman Prasad was born in Ratangarh, Rajasthan, to Lala Bhimraj Agarwal and Rikhibai, who were devout followers of Lord Hanuman, hence naming their son Hanuman Prasad. Unfortunately, he lost his mother at the young age of two and was raised by his grandmother, who deeply instilled spiritual values in him. His childhood was filled with the teachings of the Gita, Ramayana, Vedas, and Puranas, shaping his lifelong devotion to Sanatan Dharma.
At an early age, he was taught Hanuman Kavach, and he received spiritual initiation from Brajdas Ji of the Nimbarka tradition. Growing up in Assam and later Kolkata, Hanuman Prasad came into contact with revolutionaries such as Aurobindo Ghosh, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, and Pandit Jhaverimal Sharma and actively participated in the Indian independence movement. He was also influenced by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Mahatma Gandhi.
He was particularly inspired by Veer Savarkar’s book “1857 Ka Swatantrata Samar” and even traveled to Mumbai in 1938 to meet him. In 1906, he led protests against the use of animal fat in textiles and spearheaded movements for Swadeshi and Khadi products.
His Role in Nation-Building
Hanuman Prasad Poddar played a crucial role in supporting Banaras Hindu University (BHU) when Madan Mohan Malaviya visited Kolkata to raise funds. He mobilized financial contributions from various donors to support Malaviya’s mission.
His revolutionary activities led to his imprisonment by the British government, which charged him and several businessmen with sedition for assisting revolutionaries in looting British weaponry. While in Alipore Jail, Poddar turned to deep spiritual practice, rising at 3 AM daily for meditation. Later, he was transferred to Shimlapal Jail in Punjab, where he studied homeopathy and began treating fellow prisoners.
Upon his release, he moved to Mumbai on the advice of Jamnalal Bajaj, where he became close to Veer Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahadev Desai, and Krishnadas Jaju. In Mumbai, he organized Marwari youth and established the Marwari Khadi Prachar Mandal.
While attending the spiritual discourses of Acharya Vishnu Digambar, he developed an interest in devotional music and later authored “Patra Pushpa”, a collection of bhakti songs.
The Birth of Gita Press Gorakhpur
Hanuman Prasad Poddar was greatly influenced by his cousin Jaydail Goenka’s Gita discourses, which inspired him to make the Bhagavad Gita affordable and accessible to everyone. His first attempt at publishing a Gita commentary in Kolkata’s Vanik Press was successful, with 5,000 copies selling immediately. However, due to typographical errors, he was deeply dissatisfied and resolved to establish his own press.
Thus, in May 1922, he founded Gita Press in Gorakhpur with the support of his friend Ghanshyam Das Jalan, who operated a business there.
The Creation of “Kalyan” Magazine
In 1926, during a Marwari Agarwal Mahasabha meeting in Delhi, Seth Jamnalal Bajaj presided over the gathering, and Ghanshyam Das Birla was also present. Birla suggested that a dedicated magazine should be launched to propagate Sanatan Dharma and positive values. Inspired by this suggestion, Poddar launched “Kalyan”, a monthly spiritual magazine.
Initially published from Mumbai, Kalyan’s first issue was released in August 1926, later shifting to Gita Press Gorakhpur. Poddar meticulously curated the magazine, inviting contributions from renowned saints, scholars, and religious experts. His dedication was unparalleled—he spent 18 hours a day working on the magazine. “Kalyan” included articles from various sects like Jainism, Ramanuja, Nimbarka, and Madhva traditions, ensuring an inclusive approach to religious discourse.
During his lifetime, Poddar oversaw the publication of over 600 books through Gita Press, ensuring they were available at cost price, making them accessible to the masses.
Humanitarian and Social Contributions
During the 1936 Gorakhpur floods, when Jawaharlal Nehru visited, the British administration forbade locals from providing him transportation, fearing a rebellion. However, Poddar bravely provided Nehru his own car, defying the British authorities.
In 1938, during the Rajasthan famine, Poddar personally visited affected regions, organizing food and fodder supplies for both people and cattle. He also played a significant role in establishing Vedic schools and religious centers in Badrinath, Jagannath Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Kaladi, and Srirangam.
He wrote extensively, warning about the negative impact of cinema on society in his book “Cinema: Entertainment or Destruction” and advocated against the dowry system in “Marriage and Dowry”. He also championed women’s education and published “Nari Shiksha” to promote literacy among women.
A Life of Selflessness
Despite his affluent background and close connections with influential figures, Poddar remained humble and dedicated to the welfare of common people. He never took a single penny from the earnings of Gita Press and even legally documented that his family would never claim any share in its revenue.
Declining Honors and Awards
Recognizing his immense contributions, the British authorities offered him the title of “Rai Sahib”, which he humbly declined. Later, the British Commissioner proposed the title “Rai Bahadur,” but Poddar refused once again.
After India’s independence, Home Minister Govind Ballabh Pant proposed his name for the Bharat Ratna award on the advice of Dr. Sampurnanand and Kanhaiyalal Munshi, but Poddar showed no interest in receiving honors.
On March 22, 1971, this great spiritual visionary left his mortal body, leaving behind Gita Press Gorakhpur, an institution that continues to illuminate the world with Sanatan Dharma and Vedic knowledge. His legacy remains an enduring beacon of selfless service, spiritual wisdom, and cultural preservation.