Located in the heart of Ahmedabad, this printing press served as the printing press and vital organ of the Indian independence movement, where Mahatma Gandhi's ideas of non-violence, self-reliance and moral integrity were translated into the printed word.
Navjivan Press, founded in 1919, played a crucial role during the Indian independence movement, not only as a printing press but also as a center of Gandhian thought.
Mahatma Gandhi, an astute printer and publisher, understood the importance of the press as a medium to spread his ideas of self-reliance, truth (Satyagraha) and non-violence (Ahimsa). It was through publications such as Navjivan, Young India and Harijan that Gandhi reached the masses, offering them not only news but also a moral compass to navigate colonial rule. At a time when the British-controlled press often censored or rejected critical content, Navjivan became a beacon of freedom of expression and integrity. On September 7, 1919, Mahatma Gandhi bought the weekly Navjivan from Natwar Printing Press located near Khamasa Gate, Ahmedabad, after it became clear that no other press owner was willing to risk publishing his "radical anti-government ideas".
With 2,500 initial subscriptions, Navjivan Weekly quickly became one of the most popular publications in Gujarat, amassing over 15,000 readers, a record for any Gujarati weekly of that time. One of the most important publications of Navjivan Press is Hind Swaraj, a manifesto setting out Mahatma Gandhi's vision for the future of India.
In 1909, Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in 10 days aboard the SS Kildonan Castle during his voyage from London to Durban. The urgency with which he wrote the text is reflected in the fact that when his right hand got tired, he started writing with his left. Hind Swaraj, initially written in Gujarati, criticized modern civilization and industrialization and advocated self-government through non-violence. For Mahatma Gandhi, publishing was not simply a business or a propaganda tool. He famously said that poor quality printing was akin to violence because it fooled the reader. He insisted on high standards of typography, durable paper, and simple, functional book covers that did not add unnecessary costs.
Mahatma Gandhi wanted his books to be accessible to the common man. His autobiography, 'My Experiments with Truth', had an asking price of 12 annas, reflecting his desire to make important works accessible to all.
A researcher from Gujarat recalls an anecdote that sums up Mahatma Gandhi's uncompromising ethical stance. When Navjivan Press once published a poor Gujarati translation of Gokhale's speeches, they asked Mahatma Gandhi to write the foreword. However, upon reviewing the translation, he declared it unworthy and demanded that the entire lot be destroyed. Even when he was told that the translation had cost 700 rupees, he asked, "Do you think it would be advisable to expose this rubbish to the public?" Navjivan Press, like all of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy, was not just about the immediate impact but the creation of lasting ethical systems. He used the press to propagate his ideas of self-sufficiency and truth, but it was not without challenges. British authorities were quick to notice the influence of Mahatma Gandhi's writings on the Indian public. After he published a series of critical articles in Young India in 1922, the government retaliated by charging him with sedition.
On March 18, 1922, the streets of Ahmedabad were bustling as Mahatma Gandhi, accompanied by his confidants, walked towards the courtroom. Despite the charges, the public's respect for him was palpable, including the judge, who stood to greet him.
This trial did not stop Mahatma Gandhi from continuing his mission. Although his press was confiscated and his archives destroyed, he never wavered in his belief that the media should serve the public good. His famous observation was: "The press has a role to play. It has to become the Bible, the Koran and the Gita of the people, all in one." He believed that journalism should inspire courage, not fear, and that the truth could only be told when the press was free. Today, Navjivan Press is more than just a printing press. It stands as a living monument to the values that Mahatma Gandhi held dear: truth, self-reliance and non-violence.
With an annual turnover of Rs 1 million, the press produces subsidized in-house publications and its staff of 135 prints 20,000 copies a day. The press also generates income by protecting the copyright of Mahatma Gandhi's complete works, including 'My Experiments with Truth', which has been translated into 24 foreign languages in addition to Braille.
Navjivan Press, founded in 1919, played a crucial role during the Indian independence movement, not only as a printing press but also as a center of Gandhian thought.
Mahatma Gandhi, an astute printer and publisher, understood the importance of the press as a medium to spread his ideas of self-reliance, truth (Satyagraha) and non-violence (Ahimsa). It was through publications such as Navjivan, Young India and Harijan that Gandhi reached the masses, offering them not only news but also a moral compass to navigate colonial rule. At a time when the British-controlled press often censored or rejected critical content, Navjivan became a beacon of freedom of expression and integrity. On September 7, 1919, Mahatma Gandhi bought the weekly Navjivan from Natwar Printing Press located near Khamasa Gate, Ahmedabad, after it became clear that no other press owner was willing to risk publishing his "radical anti-government ideas".
With 2,500 initial subscriptions, Navjivan Weekly quickly became one of the most popular publications in Gujarat, amassing over 15,000 readers, a record for any Gujarati weekly of that time. One of the most important publications of Navjivan Press is Hind Swaraj, a manifesto setting out Mahatma Gandhi's vision for the future of India.
In 1909, Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in 10 days aboard the SS Kildonan Castle during his voyage from London to Durban. The urgency with which he wrote the text is reflected in the fact that when his right hand got tired, he started writing with his left. Hind Swaraj, initially written in Gujarati, criticized modern civilization and industrialization and advocated self-government through non-violence. For Mahatma Gandhi, publishing was not simply a business or a propaganda tool. He famously said that poor quality printing was akin to violence because it fooled the reader. He insisted on high standards of typography, durable paper, and simple, functional book covers that did not add unnecessary costs.
Mahatma Gandhi wanted his books to be accessible to the common man. His autobiography, 'My Experiments with Truth', had an asking price of 12 annas, reflecting his desire to make important works accessible to all.
A researcher from Gujarat recalls an anecdote that sums up Mahatma Gandhi's uncompromising ethical stance. When Navjivan Press once published a poor Gujarati translation of Gokhale's speeches, they asked Mahatma Gandhi to write the foreword. However, upon reviewing the translation, he declared it unworthy and demanded that the entire lot be destroyed. Even when he was told that the translation had cost 700 rupees, he asked, "Do you think it would be advisable to expose this rubbish to the public?" Navjivan Press, like all of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy, was not just about the immediate impact but the creation of lasting ethical systems. He used the press to propagate his ideas of self-sufficiency and truth, but it was not without challenges. British authorities were quick to notice the influence of Mahatma Gandhi's writings on the Indian public. After he published a series of critical articles in Young India in 1922, the government retaliated by charging him with sedition.
On March 18, 1922, the streets of Ahmedabad were bustling as Mahatma Gandhi, accompanied by his confidants, walked towards the courtroom. Despite the charges, the public's respect for him was palpable, including the judge, who stood to greet him.
This trial did not stop Mahatma Gandhi from continuing his mission. Although his press was confiscated and his archives destroyed, he never wavered in his belief that the media should serve the public good. His famous observation was: "The press has a role to play. It has to become the Bible, the Koran and the Gita of the people, all in one." He believed that journalism should inspire courage, not fear, and that the truth could only be told when the press was free. Today, Navjivan Press is more than just a printing press. It stands as a living monument to the values that Mahatma Gandhi held dear: truth, self-reliance and non-violence.
With an annual turnover of Rs 1 million, the press produces subsidized in-house publications and its staff of 135 prints 20,000 copies a day. The press also generates income by protecting the copyright of Mahatma Gandhi's complete works, including 'My Experiments with Truth', which has been translated into 24 foreign languages in addition to Braille.
