Who Are we

Motilal Banarsidass, having established a book shop in 1903 at Lahore (Pakistan), after an unforseen experience at Lahore as a result of the partition of India in 1947, built everything from the ground up in India post partition. Focusing on publication of books, books of lasting value, those that delve deep in cultural heritage of India and Indian Philosophy, which was being greatly appreciated by the west at the time. After a modest start in 1903, Lala Motilal, a descendent from the family of Court Jewellers to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, set up a family business by opening a Religious Bookshop at Lahore which he placed under the charge of his son Lala Banarsidass. In 1912, Lala Banarsidass died at a young age and the responsibility of managing the bookshop devolved upon his younger brother, Lala Sunder Lal, who was a man of vision possessing a dynamic personality. These qualities inspired him with a zeal to formulate a comprehensive programme of publication of ancient Sanskrit works in the manifold branches of this exntensive literature. In doing so, he sought the cooperation of many scholars.