Nathuram Premi (26 November 1881 – 30 January 1960) was an Indian writer, publisher, poet, editor, and linguist in the field of
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
as well as
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
literature. A budding poet, he wrote under the nom de plume of "Premi". Although belonging to the
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
sect of
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
, he adopted a non-sectarian attitude and published and translated many
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
as well as
Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...
works. Working as a clerk in a firm in Mumbai he rose to establish his own publishing house and bookstore Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay which published works of many of the biggest names in Indian literature, including Munshi
Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known as Munshi Premchand based on his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani language, Hindustani literature.
Premchand was a pioneer ...
, Hajariprasad Dvivedi, Jainendrakumar, Yashpal,
Swami Satyabhakta, Sharatchandra Chatterjee and
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Thakur (; anglicised as Rabindranath Tagore ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengalis, Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renai ...
. The bookshop and publishing house now called
Hindi Granth Karyalay
Hindi Granth Karyalay is an Indian publishing house and specialized book store dealing in books pertaining to Jainology and Indology in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsha. It was established in Mumbai, India in 1912 by its founde ...
is now being managed by his grandson and great-grandson 100 years after its establishment.
Early life
Born on 26 November 1881 in Deori, in the district of
Sagar in
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central and North India. It corresponds to the Post-Vedic Chedi kingdom. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Prad ...
, Madhya Pradesh, Nāthūrām Premī was the eldest child of Tundelal Modi, a travelling merchant of modest means, belonging to the
Paravāra community of
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
Jains hailing from
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central and North India. It corresponds to the Post-Vedic Chedi kingdom. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Prad ...
. He studied in grammar school and was the monitor of his class. He cleared his pre-high school exams in 1898 and became a schoolteacher nearby at
Rehli. In the late 1890s, he married Rama Devi, who was from the nearby village of Sarkheda, in the district of Sagar.
Career in Hindi and Jain literature
Nāthūrām Premī excelled in the field of literature as a poet, editor, writer and publisher earning respect and affection of his contemporaries like Munshi
Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known as Munshi Premchand based on his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani language, Hindustani literature.
Premchand was a pioneer ...
, Mahaviraprasad Dwivedi, Rahul Sankrityayan,
Pandit Sukhlalji, Muni Jinavijayaji, Ganeshprasadji Varni, Pandit Becharadasji Doshi, Pandit Agarchand Nahata and Dr Dalsukh Malvania. Premiji and Munshi Premchand were close friends, and he published the first edition of Munshi Premchand's classic novel, ''Godān''. He also published Premchand's short story collections entitled Nava Nidhi and Sapta Saroj.
A budding poet
Under the inspiration of his guru Syed Amir Ali Mir, Nathuram became a budding poet, writing in Urdu and Braj under the nom de plume of "Premi". Since then he was affectionately called Premiji by his friends and contemporaries. His poems were published in the literary magazines of the time, Rasika Mitra, Rasika Vātikā and Kāvya Sudhākara.
Editor and writer
Establishment of Hindi Granth Karyalay

On 24 September 1912 Premiji founded the publishing house ''Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay'' (now known as ''Hindi Granth Karyalay'') at C.P. Tank, Mumbai. It was to become the foremost Hindi publishing house in India and is also the oldest bookstore of
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
. The first publication was a Hindi translation of John Stuart Mill's
On Liberty
''On Liberty'' is an essay published in 1859 by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill. It applied Mill's ethical system of utilitarianism to society and state. Mill suggested standards for the relationship between authority and liberty. H ...
, titled ''Svādhīnatā'' translated by Mahavira Prasad Dvivedi. He published almost the entire oeuvre of
Sharat Chandra Chatterji, the Bengali writer, and some works of
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Thakur (; anglicised as Rabindranath Tagore ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengalis, Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renai ...
, such as ''Ānkh kī Kirkirī'', and ''Naukā Dūbī''. Premiji also published Hindi translations of the Gujarati writer KM Munshi, such as ''Gujarāt ke Nāth'' and ''Pātan kā Prabhutva''. Other famous works published include Munshi
Premchand
Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known as Munshi Premchand based on his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani language, Hindustani literature.
Premchand was a pioneer ...
's classic novel, ''Godān'' and short story collections titled ''Nava Nidhi'' and ''Sapta Saroj''. He also published works of then new writers such as Hajariprasad Dvivedi, Jainendrakumar, Yashpal, Acharya Chatursen, and Pandit Sudarshan. He also published the Bengali plays of Dvijendra Lal Rai for the first time in Hindi.
In memory of Seth Manikchandra, Premiji established the ''Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā'' wherein he published Jain scriptures, for the first time systematically edited by philologists. The ''Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā'' published over 48
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
Jain texts, mostly written in
Prakrit
Prakrit ( ) is a group of vernacular classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 5th century BCE to the 12th century CE. The term Prakrit is usually applied to the middle period of Middle Ind ...
,
Apabhramśa or
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
. He ran the Manikacandra Jain Granthamālā on an honorary basis between 1915 and the 1950s selling all the books at cost price. When his health began to fail, it was decided to hand over the series to ''Bhāratīya Jñānapītha'' in
Varanasi
Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
.
A non-sectarian Jain scholar
Premiji was non-sectarian in his attitude and shared a good rapport with many
Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...
scholars. Besides many Digambara scriptures, he published and translated many Śvetāmbara scriptures. He once remarked to Sukhlalji that he wished that the learned
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
scholars would give up their sectarian views.
[Jain Study Circular (January–April 2006 Issue)] During those times there used to be heated debate whether Acarya
Umāsvāti (Umāsvāmī) belonged to the Śvetāmbara or the Digambara tradition. Premiji, although a Digambara himself, went against views of Digambara community and opined that he was neither, but belonged to the
Yāpanīya tradition.
[Premī, Nāthūrām (1956)] Pt. Sukhlal Sanghvi, a Śvetāmbara Jain scholar observed Premiji's non-sectarian attitude:
:"He was considered to be a Pandit – a scholar of Jain tradition. To me it was a surprise! How could his writings be so impartial and audacious? I had come in contact with many Jain friends and scholars, but until then, excepting a few, I had not come across any scholar who was as non-sectarian or fearless as Premiji. So I had developed the perception that it was impossible to find a Jain scholar who was non-sectarian as well as fearless. Premiji's writings gradually made me realise that I had the wrong notion. This was the foremost reason for me to be attracted towards him.
:
..:We had an excellent understanding of traditions of one another but we had no sectarian complicities."
Contribution to other Indian languages
Social reformer
Premiji's legacy
Under his tutelage, Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay became India's No. 1 publishers of Hindi literature. In recognition of his contributions to Indian literature, the acclaimed Hindi novelist Vishnu Prabhakar called Premiji the ''"Bhīsma Pitāmaha"'' of Hindi publishing.
Premiji had suffered from asthma for a long time and died owing to old age on 30 January 1960. He left behind his daughter-in-law and two grandsons, Yashodhar Modi and Vidyadhar Modi. They are continuing his legacy along with their children.
In Premiji's memory, his grandson Yashodhar Modi has started the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series. This series has published select volumes focusing on subjects as varied as Jainism, philosophy and yoga and published original texts by ancient and medieval Jain ascetics such as ''
Kundakunda, Samantabhadra,
Pūjyapāda, Joindu, Prabhācandra, Vādirāja, Bhāvadeva ''and many others, usually accompanied by translation in either Hindi or English.
Also, modern scholars such as Premiji himself, Prof. Ludwig Alsdorf,
Prof. Maurice Bloomfield, Prof. Willem Bollée and Dr.
Jaykumar Jalaj have been and are being published in the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series.
Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series
Jain Studies : Their Present State and Future Tasks
By Prof Dr Ludwig Alsdorf
English tr. by Bal Patil P
Published in 2006
The Story of Paesi
Prakrit text in Roman and Devanagari
English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
Published in 2005
Ratnakaranda Shravakacara
Sanskrit text by Acarya Samantabhadra
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2006, 2006
Vyavahara Bhashya Pithika
Prakrit text in Roman
English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
Published in 2006, 2011
Samadhitantra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2006, 2006, 2008
Atthapahuda
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2006, 2008
Tattvarthasutra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2008
Yogamrit : Yog Sahaj Jivan Vigyan
By Mahavir Sainik
Published in 2006
Paramatmaprakasha
Apabhramsa text by Acarya Joindu
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2007
Yogasara
Apabhramsa text by Acarya Joindu
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2007, 2009
Dhyanastava
Sanskrit text by Acarya Bhaskaranandi
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2007
Dhyanashataka
Prakrit text by Jinabhadragani Kshamashramana
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2007, 2009
Barasa Anuvekkha
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda
Sanskrit tr. & Hindi gloss by Pt. Nathuram Premi
Published in 2010
Ishtopadesha
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2007, 2009
Life and Stories of the Jain Saviour Parshvanatha
An English tr. of Acarya Bhavadeva's Parsvacaritram
by Prof Dr Maurice Bloomfield
Published in 2008
Tattvasara
Prakrit text by Acarya Devasena
Sanskrit gloss by Muni Ratnabhanuvijay
English tr. by Manish Modi
The Apabhramsha of Svayambhudeva's Paumacariu
By Dr Eva de Clercq
Published in 2010
Jainism and the Definition of Religion
By Dr Piotr Balcerowicz
Published in 2009
Dravyasamgraha
Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra
English tr. by Prof Dr Nalini Balbir
Published in 2010
Tattvarthasutra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj, English tr. by Anish Shah
Rayanasara
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
.
Jainism : An Eternal Pilgrimage
By Bal Patil
Published in 2008, 2011
Dravyasamgraha
Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra
Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Published in 2009
Parshvanathacaritram
Sanskrit text by Acarya Vadiraja
Parshvacaritram : The Life of Parshva
Sanskrit text by Acarya Gunabhadra
English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
Published in 2008
Jain Sahitya aur Itihas
By Pt. Nathuram Premi
Published in 1942, 1956, 2012
Tales of Atonement
Stories from Malayagiri's Commentary on the Vyavahara Bhashya
English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
Published in 2008
Yogashastra : A Handbook on the Three Jewels of Jainism
Sanskrit text by Acarya Hemacandra
English tr. by Prof Dr Olle Qvarnström
Samayasara
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda
Hindi translation by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
2012
Dhyanabattisi
Braj text by Banarasidasa
English tr. by Jerome Petit
Published in 2010
Tattvarthasutra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Umasvati
English tr. by Prof Dr Duli Chandra Jain
Svarupa Sambodhana
Right Instruction on the Nature of the Soul
Sanskrit text by Acarya Akalanka
English tr., notes and introduction by Nagin J. Shah
Published in 2011
Shastrasarasamuccaya
Sanskrit text by Acarya Maghanandi
English tr. by Shreyans Sukhani
Three Prakrit Grammars
By Saartje Verbeke
Published in 2010
Ishtopadesha
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada
Gujarati tr. by Pravina Mehta, English tr. by Manish Modi
Published in 2010
Bhaktamara Stotra
Sanskrit text by Acarya
Manatunga
Hindi poetic tr. and gloss by Pt Nathuram Premi, English tr. by Manish Modi
Mrityu Mahotsava
Sanskrit text by an Unknown Writer
Hindi tr. by Shreyans Sukhani, Gujarati tr. by Dr Shilpa Vasani, English tr. by Manish Modi
Published in 2010
Aradhanasara
Prakrit text by Acarya Devasena
English tr. by Prof Dr Nalini Balbir
Published in 2010
Tattvarthasutra : That Which Is
Sanskrit text by Acarya Umasvati
English tr. by Nathmal Tantia
Ratnakarandaka Shravakacara
Sanskrit text by Acarya Samantabhadra
English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
2012
Bibliography
#Aggarwal, Vasudev Sharan (Ed.). ''Premī Abhinandana Grantha''. Tikamgarh: Premī Abhinandana Grantha Samiti, 1946.
#Premī, Nāthūrām. ''Jain Sāhitya aur Itihās''. Second Edition. Mumbai: Samśodhita Sāhitya Mālā 1, 1942/1956.
#Banārasīdāsa. ''Ardha Kathānaka''. Ed. with a detailed Preface by Nāthūrām Premī. Mumbai: Samśodhita Sāhitya Mālā 2, 1946/1957.
#Amrtacandra, Ācārya. Ed. with an Introduction by Nāthūrām Premī. Āgās: Śrīmad Rājacandra Āśrama, 1904.
#Goyaliya, Ayodhyaprasad. ''Jain Jāgarana ke Agradūta''. Varanasi: Bhāratīya Jñānapītha, 1952
#Śāstrī, Phūlcandra (Ed.). ''Paravāra Jain Samāj kā Itihās''. Jabalpur: Śrī Digambara Jain Paravāra Sabhā, 1992.
#
Footnotes and references
External links
*http://www.gohgk.com
*https://web.archive.org/web/20151217120702/http://www.hindibooks.8m.com/
*http://www.jainstudy.org
*http://www.bombaysamachar.com/frmStoryShow.aspx?sNo=21964
*http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/a-publishing-house-thrives-on-a-legacy-of-reform-ushered-in-by-its-founder-2767539/#sthash.4SKmdTxg.dpuf
{{DEFAULTSORT:Premi, Nathuram
People from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
1881 births
1960 deaths
Scholars of Jainism
Indian Sanskrit scholars
Writers from Madhya Pradesh
20th-century Indian translators
Translators to Hindi
Indian social reformers
19th-century Indian Jain writers
20th-century Indian Jain writers
Indian religious writers