Establishment

Founded on 16 July 1893 at Queen’s College, Varanasi by Shyamsundar Das, Pandit Ramnarayan Mishra, and Shivkumar Singh

Early Patronage

Supported by Babu Radhakrishna Das, cousin of Bharatendu Harishchandra

Headquarters

Located in Varanasi, with branches in New Delhi and Haridwar

Primary Mission

Promotion of the Hindi language and Devanagari script in education, administration, and literature

Historical Context

Active during a period when Persian, Urdu, and English dominated official and literary use

Library Establishment

In 1896, established Arya Bhasha Pustakalaya, which became India’s largest Hindi library

Research Journal

Launched Nagari Pracharini Patrika in 1896, now India’s oldest and most respected Hindi research journal

Cultural Contributions

Managed the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, later transferred to Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

Modern Revival

Revived in 2023 under Vyomesh Shukla’s leadership following a court order by the Allahabad High Court

Practice Question:

Q. With reference to the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. It was founded in 1893 at Queen’s College, Varanasi, to promote the Devanagari script and Hindi language.
   
   
2. It published Nagari Pracharini Patrika, considered the oldest Hindi research journal in India.
   
   
3. It was responsible for managing Bharat Kala Bhavan, which later became a part of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
   
   
4. The Sabha was revived in 2023 following a court order from the Allahabad High Court.
   
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

 A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 2 and 4 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer:

B) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: Founded in 1893 at Queen’s College, Varanasi.
  
  
• Statement 2 – Correct: It began publishing the Nagari Pracharini Patrika in 1896.
  
  
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: It managed Bharat Kala Bhavan, but it was later transferred to Banaras Hindu University (BHU), not JNU.
  
  
• Statement 4 – Correct: Revived in 2023 under Vyomesh Shukla after a court order by the Allahabad High Court.