Founded in 1924 by Ganesh R. Bhatkal, Popular Prakashan is one of India’s oldest independent publishing houses with a diverse publishing portfolio in Marathi and English. His successors Ramdas Bhatkal and since the past three decades, Harsha Bhatkal have taken the legacy to new heights and have made it a name synonymous with high-quality publishing in English and Marathi.

Arguably the most respected publisher in Marathi today, Popular Prakashan made its foray into Marathi publishing in 1952 with the release of ‘Kabutare’ by Gangadhar Gadgil and ‘Kamlan’ by Arvind Gokhale. Since then, our extensive publishing list in Marathi has made a significant contribution to Marathi culture and literature. Popular Prakashan was at the forefront of the post-independence literary movement; publishing novels, short stories, poems, plays as also important non-fiction works in literary criticism, biographies, history and music. With a focus on new writers and experimental literature Popular has published over 1,500 books across various genres in Marathi.

It is a matter of pride that of the four Dnyanpeeth awards won by Marathi writers, three are part of Popular Prakashan’s stable: V.V. Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj), Vinda Karandikar and Bhalchandra Nemade.

Apart from these, Popular has published many of the most acclaimed Marathi writers such as Vijay Tendulkar, Dilip Chitre, Kiran Nagarkar, Ratnakar Matkari, Vasant Kanetkar, G.A. Kulkarni, Mahanor, Grace, Narayan Surve, Shyam Manohar and Durga Bhagwat. Popular has been associated with many writers from the next generation as well who have made valuable contributions to Marathi literature: Ajit Dalvi, Prashant Dalvi, Jayant Pawar, Makarand Sathe, Rajan Gavas, Krishnat Khot, Dasu Vaidya, Soumitra, Neerja, Prafulla Shiledar, Rahi Anil Barve, Manaswini Lata Ravindra to name a few; all having received various State government awards as also awards from the Sahitya Akademi.

Two notable awards received by Popular recognising its outstanding achievements in Marathi publishing are the ‘Shri. Pu. Bhagwat Puraskar’ presented by the Maharashtra Government and the prestigious award bestowed by the Maharashtra Foundation. Remarkably, both organisations chose Popular Prakashan as the inaugural recipient of these accolades, underscoring the significant impact and importance of Popular’s contributions to Marathi literature.

Our contribution in English has also been significant and our English authors include Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, superstar Amitabh Bachchan, sociologists G S Ghurye and A R Desai, historians Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, D D Kosambi, biographer Dhananjay Keer. Popular Prakashan has co-published extensively with Encyclopaedia Britannica, Star Television, Discovery Channel, Chandamama Publications, National Geographic, Walt Disney Company as also various government bodies like ICSSR, ICHR, IIM -A, ASI to name a few.

Popular Prakashan has also published numerous books in the visual, literary and performing arts as well. The Dialogue Series by Ranjit Hoskote and Nancy Adajania, a visual arts encyclopedia in Marathi by Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, biographies of S. G. Vasudev, Senaka Senanayake (written by Harsha Bhatkal) and books on the works of Sudhir Patwardhan, Sakti Burman, Sunil Gawde in the visual arts while the 3 volume Sankshipt Shabdkosh , Bhatkhande’s multi volume Hindustānī Saṅgīta Paddhati, Pandit Birju Maharaj’s Ras Gunjan, a 3 volume treatise on Marathi theatre by Makarand Sathe are other notable books that have added to the literature available in their respective subjects.