Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India By Akshaya Mukul

EXPLORE THE DEEPLY RESEARCHED, GROUNDBREAKING HISTORY OF GITA PRESS AND ITS PROFOUND IMPACT ON MODERN INDIAN POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONSCIOUSNESS.

Founded in the early 1920s by Marwari businessmen-turned-spiritualists Jaydayal Goyandka and Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Gita Press and its flagship magazine Kalyan grew into an unprecedented publishing empire. By distributing tens of millions of copies of sacred texts like the Gita, the Upanishads, and the works of Tulsidas, Gita Press shaped a massive, reward-based piety and forged a militant Hindu nationalist voice that resonated across generations.

In this original and captivating account, Akshaya Mukul charts how Gita Press became the influential spokesperson for the Hindu Right on defining national issues—from cow slaughter and the national language debate to the creation of Pakistan and India's secular Constitution. Featuring an extraordinary cast of characters, including nationalist ideologues, hustling editors, and prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, this book offers essential insight into the making of the modern Hindu public sphere.

Why this book is a must-have:

• Deeply Researched History: A definitive, critically acclaimed look at one of the most powerful and enduring publishing enterprises in modern India.

• Fascinating Cultural Insights: Explores the intricate intersection of commerce, religion, and the rise of political Hinduism.

• Riveting Narrative: Brings to life a colorful cast of entrepreneurs, spiritualists, and historical figures who shaped public discourse.

• Essential Non-Fiction: A mandatory addition for readers of modern Indian history, politics, sociology, and cultural studies.

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