NAVAJIVAN TRUST
Founded by Mahatma Gandhi, Navajivan Trust is a publishing house of great repute having to its credit publications of more than 800 titles in English, Gujarati, Hindi and other languages so far.
Located on the west side of the river Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, this unique institution has grown from strength to strength during the last eight decades.
Background :
Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 after shining victory in South Africa with a new and powerful weapon of Satyagraha. He settled down in Ahmedabad with a view to serve the people of India.
1919-1929
In the year 1919 Gandhiji decided to launch Satyagraha against Rowlatt Bill. Meanwhile, Shri Horniman, the editor of the Bombay Cronicle was taken away by the Government to an unknown place outside India, for his fearless writings against the injustice of the Government. Managers of the daily, therefore, requested Gandhiji to conduct the daily. Soon the Government closed down the daily.
At that time Shri Umar Sobani and Shri Shankerlal Banker requested Gandhiji to take up the responsibility of publishing the English weekly Young India. Gandhiji who had experience of running a weekly Indian Opinion in South Africa, accepted the suggestion as he wanted to explain the essence of Satyagraha to the people of India.
"But how can the people be trained in Satyagraha through English ?...." wrote Gandhiji then. He wanted to attain Swaraj for India by educating the people through cultivated and enlightened workers devoted to the Gujarati language.
Shri Indulal Yagnik placed "Navajivan Ane Satya" a monthly published in Gujarati at the disposal of Gandhiji. He accepted the editorship, changed the name to Navajivan and converted it to weekly. As this was being published from Ahmedabad, Gandhiji suggested that Young India too should be brought out from Ahmedabad.
The first issue of Navajivan bearing the name of Gandhiji as its editor was published on September 7, 1919 while the first issue of ‘Young India’ under the editorship of Gandhiji was published on October 8, 1919. This was the beginning of the unique journey of the people of India towards freedom from the British Rule, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
The story of Navajivan Institution is the brightest chapter in the epic of India’s non-violent struggle for freedom. As we shall see, the growth of the weeklies, the Navajivan Institution and the freedom movement were so interwoven that it is difficult to mention about the progress of one without making reference to the other.
Growth of Navajivan :
Navajivan was being printed in the Natvar Printing Press situated near the Khamasa Gate in Ahmedabad. Soon after Gandhiji took over Navajivan readership increased from 600 to 6000 by the third issue and the small press in which Navajivan was printed, was found to be inadequate to cope with the demands. It was, therefore, decided to purchase a printing press. Manahar Printing Press located in a lane at the entrance of Chudiaul was purchased at the cost of Rs. 10,000/- and renamed as Navajivan Mudranalaya. The other reason which was more important for purchasing a printing press was the reluctance on the part of the owners of the other printing presses to print the fearless and critical writings of Gandhiji against the Government.
In a shortwhile circulation of Navajivan reached the figure of 12,000 but Young India could reach the circulation of only 1,400. This was found to be uneconomical. Hence it was decided to entrust the supervision of both the weeklies and the management of the printing press to a single person, Swami Anand.
On the 1st August 1920, Non-Cooperation Movement was launched due to khilafat issue. Gandhiji travelled extensively throughout India addressing various public gatherings. This brought about unusual awareness amongst the people and the atmosphere was surcharged with new hopes. Subscribers of Navajivan and Young India increased by leaps and bounds. Both the publications became self-reliant within no time and even the debt incurred for purchasing and running the press was also liquidated.
On August 19, 1921 Hindi Navajivan, a Hindi edition of Navajivan was published. Non-Cooperation Movement had reached its peak in 1921 and the readers were eagerly awaiting arrival of Navajivan and Young India every Sunday. Due to Non-Coperation Movement, contributors to the weeklies increased and circulation of Navajivan reached 40,000 and that of Young India 26,000 to 30,000. Even Hindi Navajivan reached the circulation of 15,000 to 18,000. Additional issues of Navajivan became the order of the day. About 90 people were working day and night in a small place. It was not possible to work in such a congested small place like this for a long time and there was a need to shift to a larger and better place. A building situated in Sarkhigarani Wadi outside Sarangpur Gate was found convenient and on the 11th February, 1922 the printing press and all the other departments of the Institution were shifted.
Hardly had a month elapsed when the Government arrested Gandhiji for writing three seditious articles in Young India and sentenced him to six years’ simple imprisonment. As the Government had not asked Navajivan Mudranalaya to furnish security deposit for non-violation of press rules, the weeklies were continued to be published under the editorship of various workers till their arrests.
In January, 1924 Gandhiji was operated upon for Appendicities. On the 5th February he was released unconditionally by the Government. As soon as Gandhiji regained strength, he resumed editorship of Navajivan and Young India from April 1924. After Gandhiji resumed editorship Young India continued as effectively and aggressively as before until 1930 when the historical Salt Satyagraha was launched. In 1924 savings of Rs. 50,000/- of Navajivan Mudranalaya were handed over to Gujarat Prantik Samiti for propagation of spinning wheel and khadi.
In the year 1925 the first Mumbai office of Navajivan was opened to provide Mumbaites its publications at a low cost and in time. Similar offices were also opened in Surat, Pune, Rajkot, Delhi, Indore and Vadodara.
Navajivan Institution was expanding. No advertisement was being taken in the weeklies and publications were also provided to the readers at a low cost.
In 1928 the total asset of Navajivan Institution was estimated at Rs. 100,000/-. On the 27th November 1929 Gandhiji registered the deed of Trust and converted private ownership of Navajivan Institution into a Public Charitable Trust.
Thus the long cherished ideal of Gandhiji of creating a public institution for educating public opinion together with the activities of conducting weeklies was fulfilled.
The following are the extracts from the Declaration of Trust made by Mahatma Gandhi on November 26, 1929.
Declaration of Trust
We, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi age about years 60, Hindu, profession weaving and farming, residing at Satyagrahashrama, Vadaj, Taluka Uttar Daskroi, District Ahmedabad and Mohanlal Maganlal Bhatta, age about years 31, Hindu, residing at Bhoivadani Pole, Kalupur, Ahmedabad, declare by this Deed:
That in the year 1919 with the object of serving the people we, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and some of our colleagues together started a printing press named ‘Navajivan Mudranalaya’ in the city of Ahmedabad and with its help began to print, circulate and conduct as an institution for the service of the public two weeklies, the Navajivan and the Young India, both of which we had begun to conduct some time before after securing them by buying from their previous owners and managers with their total rights of ownership and possession.
The Weekly Hindi Navajivan and a department for publishing books under the name ‘Navajivan Prakashan Mandir’ and other more activities were carried on afterwards by us through the same institution. The said weeklies, printing press, and the department for publishing books have continued as a public institution for the education of the people under one comprehensive name of the ‘Navajivan Institution’. When the said Navajivan Institution was started under the name of the Navajivan Mudranalaya its property was worth about ten thousand, in figures, 10,000 rupees. Together with the said printing press and the increase earned through the weeklies the property that belongs to the Institution today without any burden on it is worth about rupees one lakh.
The aims and objects of the said Navajivan Institution which have been referred to in the previous para 2 are as under:
OBJECTS: To propagate peaceful means for the attainment of Hind Swaraj i.e. Swaraj for India by educating the people through cultivated and enlightened workers devoted to the Gujarati language who desire to identify themselves with the life of Gujarat through the means of Gujarati and to serve India in this pure manner.
For the fulfilment of this object to conduct the Navajivan, through it to carry on propaganda for peaceful attainment of Swaraj; and particularly
It is to be noted that Navajivan Trust was to propagate by publication of journals and books the activities Gandhiji had started for the religious, social, economic and political advancement of the people. It was to carry on all the activities on the basis of self-reliance. For the purpose of self-reliance, the press might undertake printing of such writings which are not contrary to the objectives of the Trust. It is to the credit of the devoted trustees of the Navajivan Trust that they have strictly observed the objectives of the Trust even at the cost of profitable printing work going past them. Similarly no advertisement is taken in weeklies, papers or books published by the Trust. The objective of self-reliance has also been observed strictly as, so far, no grant or donation has been accepted by the Trust.
1930-1940
On the 12th March 1930 Gandhiji started his famous Dandi March for protesting against the Salt Act. Satyagraha movement acquired great momentum and the Viceroy promulgated very strict press ordinance. As the Navajivan Trust did not pay the required security deposit of Rs. 5,000/- the Government seized the press and shifted the printing machines to Mumbai. Nevertheless, devoted workers continued the publication of Navajivan and Young India for eight months from unknown place. About ten thousand copies from the underground press were taken out on Roneo machine and distributed in time.
After Gandhi-Erwin pact, publication of these weeklies was resumed. The Government returned the printing machines seized earlier but in a dismantled condition. During this period the office of Navajivan Trust was shifted to a building near Bala Hunuman on Gandhi Road. Printing press was also shifted to a building situated behind the office.
In 1931 Gandhiji went to England to attend the Round Table Conference, but returned empty handed as the Rulers did not change their stand. Shortly after his return to India Gandhiji was arrested. Authorities eyed Navajivan and Yound India critically. They did not allow publication of weeklies to be continued for long. The last issue of Navajivan was published on 10th January 1932.
The year 1932 was a very crucial year for Navajivan Trust. Most of the workers had either left the institution to work in their villages or gone to jail. The press was seized and released after some time. To allow the press to remain idle would mean allowing it to rust. It was, therefore, sold. Office was also closed. Only Mumbai office was kept open
In February 1933, to remove the inequalities of Harijan on social, economic and political front Gandhiji established Harijan Sevak Sangh and started an English publication Harijan. He also started Harijan Sevak in Hindi and Harijan Bandhu in Gujarati. They were printed in Aryabhushan Printing Press, Puna as Gandhiji was in Yearvada Jail. Publication of these weeklies continued till November 1940.
In 1933 Shri Kakasaheb Kalelkar and Shri Mahadev Desai were released from jail. They decided to revive Navajivan Prakashan Mandir for printing & publishing some of the books of Gandhiji and Ashram Bhajanawali as there was no stock of these popular books. Hence the activities of Navajivan Trust were restarted. At that time there was neither office nor printing press with Navajivan Trust. They had to begin the press. People welcomed this activity and publishing started in full swing. Autobiography of Gandhiji, Anasaktiyoga, Niti nash ne Marge and Mangal Prabhat were reprinted.
The second task was to arrange the writings of Gandhiji according to subjects and publish in the form of books. Thus Dharmamantham, Vyapak Dharmabhawana, Tyagmurti ane bija lekho, Varnavyavastha, etc.. were published.
In 1936 the Trust undertook the publication of the books of Gujarat Vidyapith under the head Vidyapith Granthawali. Till 1937 it had no printing press of its own, when the original Navajivan Printing press which had changed hands two-three times was repurchased. As now the trust owned the printing press, publication and printing of books became speedy and well organised. The undertaking of the activities of printing and binding by the Trust brought about quality improvement in them.
In October 1939 the Trust started yet another activity by publishing Shikshan ane Sahitya. The Second World War brought upheavel in the political arena of the country and Gandhiji launched Satyagraha by individuals. Sant Vinoba Bhave was selected as the first satyagrahi. He was arrested. The Jilla Magistrate, Pune served a notice on Gandhiji that any matter relating to Satyagraha or description of any incidents in that connection should be published only after getting clearance from the Chief Press Advisor, Delhi. Gandhiji discontinued the publication of Harijan since the correspondence with the Viceory did not satisfy him.
In January 1942 publication of these weeklies was again resumed when the Government released all the Satyagrahi prisoners. However, in August 1942 Navajivan Mudranalaya was sealed by the Government and all the matters relating to Harijan and stock of papers were seized and destroyed. Publication of Harijan was thereafter discontinued.
In 1946 after the world war was over Gandhiji again resumed publication of Harijan. This time its circulation increased to 75,000 copies in English, Hindi and Gujarati. It was also published in other Indian languages. People had the privilege of knowing the mind of Gandhiji through this medium till his assassination in 1948. Even after the death of Gandhiji, Harijan was published till 1956, under the editionship of Shri K. G. Mashruwala and Shri Maganbhai Desai.
Shikshan ane Sahitya which was started in 1939 and which contained discussions on education, literature and questions of national importance, was renamed as Navajivan. Publication of Navajivan was continued till 1961, when on account of financial loss it was closed.
1940 onwards
On February 20, 1940 Gandhiji made a will in favour of Navajivan Trust as under :
GANDHIJI’S WILL
ANY WILLS that I may have made before this day stand cancelled and this be deemed as my last Will.
I do not believe that I have any property. Nevertheless, anything which by social convention or in law is considered mine: anything movable or immovable; books, articles etc. that I have written and may write hereafter, whether printed or not printed and all their copyright; I endow as my heirs the Navajivan Institution, whom I hereby declare as my heirs, and the Declaration of Trust for the establishment of which I along with Mohanlal Maganlal Bhatta got registered as a deed of trust on 26-11-1929 and of which Shri Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, Shri Mahadev Haribhai Desai and Shri Narhari Dwarkadas Parikh are at present Trustees.
The Navajivan Trust will give to the Harijan Sevak Sangh for Harijan service, every year, after my demise, twenty-five per cent of the net profit that it carns out of the sale of the books mentioned above and out of the exercise of their copyright.
In order to execute my desire as expressed by this my Will and to make the necessary arrangements for it I appoint Bhai Mahadev Haribhai Desai and Narhari Dwarkadas Parikh as my executors. In the absence of any one of them by death or any other cause the other has the right to make the necessary arrangements and to execute this my Will.
Sd. MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
MALIKANDA, 20-2-1940
Witnesses :
Sd. PYARELAL NAYYAR
20-2-1940
Sd. KISHORLAL G. MASHRUWALA
20-2-1940
Navajivan Mudranalaya
The history of Navajivan and Harijan is in essence the development of the Navajivan Trust. Along with the weeklies Navajivan Mudranalaya has seen many ups and downs and also achieved remarkable progress. Like the weeklies the Mudranalaya has also acquired a distinct individuality. From the very beginning the printing of the weeklies was neat, clean, impressive and maintained high standard in the clarity of language. The contribution of workers like Swami Anand, Shri Mohanlal Maganlal Bhatt, Shri Jiwanji Desai and Shri Dhirubhai Nayak in achieving this is worth noting. This tradition has been maintained even today and Navajivan Mudranalaya has received awards at state and national levels for its excellent printing.
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In the year 1950 the Navajivan Trust was shifted to its present location. A new building was constructed to house the office and printing press. Housing colony and blocks were constructed for the workers. As per the Trust Deed no grant or donation was accepted for the expansion work but a loan of Rs. 1.6 million was raised. It was a difficult task to engage in the activities of providing magazines and books at a low cost, remain self-reliant and repay the large debt at the same time. No sooner the plans were formulated for increasing the printing work in conformity with the objectives of the trust for repaying the debt than the trust suffered the loss of its Chairman Shri Vallabhbhai Patel on the 15th December 1950. Shri Morarji Desai succeeded him as the Chairman. Under his able guidance Mudranalaya was modernised and expanded. The Mudranalay is a boon to the self-reliant Trust working for the objectives of the propagation of Gandhian thoughts and literature. |
Navajivan Prakashan Mandir
From 1922 onwards, one department for publication of books was existing in Navajivan Institution. A small book ‘Homage to Lokmanya’ was published by the Prakashan Mandir. Thereafter, collection of articles written by Gandhiji in Navajivan were published in the form of a book. This was followed by publication of few other books. By 1923, 25 books were published. A scheme was introduced for the Prakashan Mandir to provide books published by Navajivan to the customers at a very low price and in time. A subscription of Rs. two was to be collected in advance and books published by the Prakashan Mandir were sent by post to the customers. The scheme became very popular and books of Navajivan reached every nook and corner of Gujarat. Thus began the spread of what we call today Gandhi sahitya in a larger sense.
During the freedom movement Navajivan Prakashan Mandir contributed substantially. It gave to the nation many publications in Gujarati, Hindi and English for the social, economic and political upliftment of the country. People welcomed these publications like the other weeklies namely Navajivan, Young India and Harijan. A chain of writers like Shri Mahadev Desai, Swami Anand, Shri Kishorlal Mashruwala, Shri Kakasaheb Kalelkar, Shri Narhari Parikh and Shri Maganbhai Desai authored books for Navajivan. In addition many national leaders who had come in contact with Gandhiji felt honoured for publication of their books by Navajivan.
After independence the main work of the Trust has been to spread the thoughts of Gandhiji through publication of books. To this end in view subjectwise writings of Gandhiji, memoirs of his co-workers, diaries and publications depicting various facets of Gandhiji’s personality have been brought out. These publications are mainly in Gujarati, Hind and English.
Right from the very beginning there has been a tradition of Navajivan to provide publications at an affordable price to the reader. Publications which are considered essential for propagation of Gandhiji’s message and his thought processes are offered at the subsidised price.
In the recent years to mark 125th birth anniversary of Gandhiji the Trust launched a project of publishing Gandhiji’s autobiography in all major regional languages of India at a subsidised price.
Regional languages version of autobiography of about 452 or more pagess is offered at Rupees 20 per copy. Originally written in Gujarati, the Autobiography has been translated into Assamiya, Bengali, English, Hindi, Oriya, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Urdu.
The Trust has also undertaken to translate and publish in Gujarati all the volumes of ‘Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi’. It has published 82 volumes in Gujarati so far.
During Gandhi Centenary Year Navajivan has published ‘Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi and offered it to readers at subsidised price. The set was reprinted in Gandhi’s 125th birth anniversary year. To meet the demand of regional languages Navajivan has embarked upon another ambitious project to publish ‘Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi’ in regional languages. It has already published these books in Malayalam, Telugu and Bengali. Tamil and Kannadas editions are in press and will be released during 2001.
People living under the constant threat of the third World War are attracted to the thoughts and teachings of Gandhiji, as an alternative to the war, to resolve their internal as well as external conflicts.
Moreover on account of fast changing world, people are torn amidst various ideologies, face challenges every day which threaten to uproot them from moral grounds leading to tension, anxieties, stress and depression. Gandhiji’s message of peace, love and universal brotherhood has greater relevance now. His speeches and writings are living source of solace and inspiration to millions of people through out the world and the Navajivan Trust with its team of dedicated workers is providing excellent ethical literature to the readers, thereby rendering a great service to the humanity at large.
