Gita Press, Gorakhpur Conferred with Gandhi Peace Prize 2021
19 June 2023: Gorakhpur based Gita Press is the world’s largest publisher of Hindu Religious. It was founded in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyanka and Ghanshyam Das Jalan for promoting the principles of Sanatana Dharma. Hanuman Prasad Poddar better known as “Bhaiji” was the founding and the lifetime editor of its noted magazine. They have published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, it said.
Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press in recognition of its “Outstanding Contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods”, according to an official statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Gita Press for winning the prize and commended their contribution in the field.
“I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people. @GitaPress,” PM Modi tweeted.
The jury headed by Prime Minister Modi unanimously decided to select Gita Press as the recipient of Gandhi Peace Prize, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Culture. Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of the Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service, the statement said.
The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the government in 1995, on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. Award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender. The award carries an amount of Rs.1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item, the ministry said.
