PT. NATHU RAM PREMI
(1881-30-1-1960)
Simple hearted and a devoted leading literary figure, Pt. Nathu Ram ‘Premi’ was born at Devri, a small town in Distt. Sagar (M.P.)After passing Teachers Training examination he worked as a village teacher and Postmaster for two years. While he was about 18 years old the family was in a critical financial condition.
For his attractive handwriting he secured a service of Rs. 25/- p.m. in Bombay Prantik Sabha at Bombay. There he worked for few years and edited ‘Jain Mittra’. At Bombay he learnt Sanskrit, Prakrit, Bangla, Gujrati and Marathi languages.
He also edited ‘Daulat Vijay’, ‘Jin Shatak’ and ‘Banarsi Vilas’. He composed poems and adopted the surname of ‘Premi’. Since young age his articles and poems were published in various magazines.
Pt. Panna Lai Backliwal had made him editor of ‘Jain Hitashi’ and a partner in Jain Grantha Ratnakar Karyalaya at Bombay which he had established for publication of Jain literature.
With his hard work, Premiji cleared its debts, made a cash reserve and published a large number of good books. After the death of Seth Maneck Chand, J.P. Premiji established Maneck Chand Dig. Jain Granthamala (was its Secretary) and edited and published Jain books written in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsa.
On 24th Sept. 1912 he established his own Hindi Grantha Ratnakar which has published a large number of books written by prominent Hindi writers and others. He took great pains in improving publication standard of Hindi books. His work on research, editing and publication of old Jain scriptures is considered as a milestone in Jain literature.
He wrote about 36 books of which Jain Sahitya Aur Itihas, Jain Sahitya-ka-Sankshipt Itihas, ‘Vidyut-Ratnamala’, ‘Praduman Charitra’, ‘Punyashrava Katha Kosh’, ‘Jnan-Suryodaya Natak’, ‘Jain Pad Sangraha’ (6 Vols.), ‘Chatra Chudamani’, ‘Pratibha’, ‘Phoolon-ka-Guchha’,‘Vishapahar’, ‘Bhaktamar’, ‘Ravindra Katha Kunj’ are much important.Leading authors of the country honoured him by presenting ‘Premi Abhinandan Grantha’ for his devoted literary services.
He was a staunch opponent of orthodoxy and social evils. He had married his younger brother to a widow. For several years he suffered with asthma. Shock of the death of his only son Shri Hemchand Modi at a young age and later of his wife in 1932 had adversely affected his already bad health. He continued his deep studies and research work till his death on 30th Jan. 1960.
