RK
Industrialist

Radheshyam Khemka

Born 12 December 1935 · verify

Serving as chairperson of Gita Press and editing its publications for 38 years.

Radheshyam Khemka was a journalist and editor who later served as the chairperson of the Gita Press. In 2014, he was appointed chairperson of Gita Press. He worked as an editor for Gita Press for 38 years.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Radheshyam Khemka performed a month-long Kalpwas ritual for 60 consecutive years during the Magh Mela, living with extreme austerity by bathing thrice daily in the Ganges and sleeping on the ground.

The Story

1. 🌟 Born in 1935 in Bihar’s Munger district, Radheshyam Khemka left the world of papermaking behind in 1982 to dedicate himself to Gita Press, a publishing house that had been quietly shaping Hindu literature since 1926. 2. 📜 From March 1983 until his death in April 2021, he edited the monthly magazine Kalyan, producing 460 issues and 38 special annual editions that made rare scriptures like the Puranas accessible to millions. 3. 🕉️ Influenced deeply by Swami Karpatriji, Khemka not only edited but modernized Gita Press’s printing technology, boosting both the quality and reach of Hindu religious texts worldwide. 4. For 60 years, every January and February, Khemka performed Kalpwas at the Magh Mela in Allahabad—fasting, bathing thrice daily in the Ganges, and living with austere devotion, embodying the spiritual discipline he preached. 5. 💡 Under his leadership starting in 2014, Gita Press expanded its cultural influence, with Kalyan’s circulation reportedly peaking at 250,000 in 2012, making it one of the largest Hindu religious periodicals globally. 6. He authored and edited key Hindu texts and commentaries, including 'Jivanacharya: The Indian Way of Life' and 'Shiv Puran Katha Sar,' blending scholarship with accessible storytelling to bring Sanatan Dharma to the common reader. 7. ❓ How did a businessman-turned-editor from Bihar transform a century-old press into a global beacon of Hindu culture, quietly shaping religious discourse for millions over nearly four decades?

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1982, Khemka handed over his family papermaking business to his children to embark on a lifelong editorial career at Gita Press, editing his first issues of Kalyan that November and December.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Munger, Bihar
Radheshyam Khemka was born into a Marwari family in Munger district, Bihar, beginning a life steeped in Hindu tradition and culture.
1935
📚
Education
Move to Varanasi and Higher Education
Khemka moved to Varanasi and earned a master's degree in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University, laying the foundation for his future editorial work.
1956
⚡
Career
Joins Gita Press and Edits Kalyan
He joined Gita Press, editing the November and December issues of Kalyan magazine, marking the start of his nearly 40-year editorial journey.
1982
⚡
Career
Becomes Full-Time Editor of Kalyan
Khemka took over as full-time editor of Kalyan magazine, a role he held until his death in 2021, shaping Hindu religious discourse through print.
1983
⚡
Career
Kalyan Circulation Peaks
Under Khemka’s editorship, Kalyan’s print circulation reportedly reached 250,000 copies, expanding Gita Press’s reach significantly.
2012
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Career
Appointed Chairperson of Gita Press
Khemka became chairperson of Gita Press Trust Board, steering the institution’s mission until his death.
2014
🕊️
Death
Death at Kedar Ghat, Varanasi
Radheshyam Khemka passed away at age 86 at Kedar Ghat in Varanasi, ending a remarkable chapter in Hindu publishing history.
2021
🏅
Award
Posthumous Padma Vibhushan Award
The Government of India honored Khemka posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan for his contributions to literature and education.
2022
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Under Khemka’s editorship, Kalyan magazine published 38 annual special issues and 460 monthly editions, helping preserve and popularize rare Hindu scriptures like the Puranas.

02 / 06
👤PERSONAL

Khemka maintained lifelong guru-disciple ties with Swami Karpatriji, whose spiritual guidance inspired him to serve Gita Press and Hindu culture.

03 / 06
💡SURPRISING

For six decades, Khemka performed Kalpwas at the Magh Mela, a month-long vow involving strict fasting, ground sleeping, and multiple daily holy baths in the Ganges.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Khemka's stewardship of Gita Press modernized its production capabilities, vastly increasing the quality and circulation of Hindu religious texts, notably the magazine Kalyan which reached a print run of 250,000. His editorial vision made rare scriptures accessible to the masses, reinforcing Gita Press’s role as the world’s largest publisher of Hindu literature and influencing Hindu cultural education across India and beyond.

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