Motilal Banarsidass Heritage Publishers

Author(s): Marwar India
Publisher: Marwar India

Page 2

MARWAR INDIAI MARCH-APRIL 2014 10 STRIDES A timeline for the MLBD empire 1903 Motilal Jain and his son Banarasidass set up a small bookstore in Lahore, erstwhile Punjab. and patrons worldwide. Honest and ethical business practices form our core strengths," says Rajendra Jain, an authority on Ayurveda and one of the directors of the company. metaphor, "Just as wine tastes finer with age, MLBD's worth increases with each passing year. This is a company whose value cannot be measured just in terms of money." 1915 Banarasidass' brother, Sundar Lal, and his son, Shanti Lal, take charge of the fledgling business, calling it Motilal Banarasidass Publishers. Following tradition Owing to such an attitude, the Jains work harmoniously; property disputes and feuds are strangers to them. Their joint family tradition, they say, is the reason why MLBD has stood the test of time. A typical Jain family photograph comprises 27 members! Not surprisingly, the company's employees stand testimony to the owners' ethical practices and respectful dealings. There are some employees who have worked with MLBD for more than 50 years and they were duly recognised at the company's centenary celebrations in 2003. Presidents S Radhakrishnan and Rajendra Prasad have been patrons of the company--in fact, Ravindra Jain, director of finance, even reminisces about an uncashed cheque which lies at the Jain household. Signed by President Abdul Kalam, this cheque serves as memorabilia for the regard that the president had shown for the books he was gifted. BANA While they are proud of championing a legacy in Indian publishing, the Jain family nurtures a realistic view about their company's future. They are aware of decreasing readership and receding consumer sales, and agree that establishing a new bookstore today isn't profitable. However, in the spirit of keeping up with changing buying patterns, MLBD's imprint, New Age Books, aims to burgeon sales by focusing on topics such as reiki, self-healing and pranik healing, which are sure to draw the interest of diverse age groups. Moreover, the company is diversifying its exports by supplying high-in-demand products such as yoga and puja accessories and Tibetan and Buddhist handicrafts. A web portal for the promotion of Ayurvedic cosmetics and organic foods is also in the pipeline. While the Jain brothers are assured of their foothold in publishing, they aren't shying away from peripheral industries as well. After all, MLBD is more than just a commercial venture today--it is a symbol of a century-old passion, which has been handed down generation after generation. Managing director Jainendra Jain elaborates with an interesting FATO मोतीलाल बनारस 1937 Two of India's oldest bookstores are set up in the form of the MLBD's branches in Patna and Varanasi. In the last 110 years, this publishing house has not only traversed borders, but redefined the importance given to the written word, as its beliefs internalise the fact that truly, knowledge is power. * 1957 The Jain family inaugurates its flagship store in New Delhi during the All India Oriental Conference. 1965 MLBD takes over the distribution rights to the first edition of Vedic Mathematics from the Banaras Hindu University, the subsequent editions of which have been their bestselling titles till date. 1989 MLBD publishes a copy of Shri Ramcharitmanas in Avadhi, with translations in Hindi and English, and accompanied by paintings, making it the first of its kind to be published in India. 1992 Shantilal Jain becomes the first publisher in the history of Indian publishing to be awarded the Padma Shri.