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— CH. 1 · FOUNDING AND EARLY YEARS —

Asian Educational Services

~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • Jagdish Lal Jetley opened the doors to Asian Educational Services in New Delhi during 1973. The firm began with a singular mission to save old books from disappearing forever. These texts were often printed between the 17th and early 20th centuries. They contained vital knowledge about history, travel, and culture across Asia. Without intervention, many of these volumes would have rotted in damp storage or been lost to time. The publisher set out to give them a new life through careful reprinting. By 2016, the company had produced more than 1200 such titles.

  • The publishing house maintains an active programme focused on preserving knowledge found in old books. An extensive list of about 200 travelogues offers a vivid picture of India specifically and Asia generally. Many big names in Asian exploration and history have seen their works reprinted by this firm. Travelogues written by people who frequented India during the Middle Ages received a new lease on life. Other areas of publication activity include Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and the Himalayas. Central Asia, Burma, Myanmar, and the Indian Ocean also feature prominently in their catalog. Subjects covered range from customs and manners to religion, Buddhism, numismatics, anthropology, art, and architecture.

  • Language aids for over 40 Asian, European, and African languages form a core part of the AES programme. These resources appear as dictionaries, polyglots, grammar aids, and self-taught series. All major languages of the Indian sub-continent are included in this collection. Semitic languages like Amharic and the Arabic family of languages receive specific attention. The goal is to support language studies across a vast geographical spectrum. This approach ensures that rare linguistic materials remain accessible to scholars and students alike. The firm treats these texts with the same care applied to historical narratives.

  • Authors such as Marco Polo and Sven Hedin had their works reprinted by the publishing house. Al-Biruni appears among the key historical figures whose writings were preserved for modern readers. Philippus Baldaeus and François Bernier contributed travelogues that detailed life in India during earlier centuries. Richard Francis Burton and Abbé Barthélemy Carré offered accounts spanning from 1672 to 1674. Alexander Csoma de Kőrös and Ippolito Desideri documented regions often overlooked by mainstream historians. Wilhelm Geiger and Max Müller provided scholarly insights into ancient traditions. Niccolao Manucci and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier described the customs and habits of diverse populations. Their collective output created a library of essential historical records.

  • AES received the National Award for Excellence in Publishing in 2005. This honor recognized the firm's dedication to preserving rare classics. The company has been featured regularly in newspapers and TV shows highlighting its reprint programme. National dailies like The Hindu and The Indian Express carried stories about the publisher. Among the channels featuring AES are Door Darshan 1 and the CNN/IBN network in India. These media appearances brought attention to the importance of keeping old books alive. The coverage helped establish the firm as a significant cultural institution within India.

Common questions

When did Jagdish Lal Jetley open Asian Educational Services in New Delhi?

Jagdish Lal Jetley opened the doors to Asian Educational Services in New Delhi during 1973. The firm began with a singular mission to save old books from disappearing forever.

What types of texts does Asian Educational Services reprint and when were they originally printed?

Asian Educational Services reprints texts that were often printed between the 17th and early 20th centuries. These volumes contain vital knowledge about history, travel, and culture across Asia including regions like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and the Himalayas.

Which famous explorers had their works reprinted by Asian Educational Services?

Authors such as Marco Polo and Sven Hedin had their works reprinted by the publishing house along with Al-Biruni and Philippus Baldaeus. Richard Francis Burton and Abbé Barthélemy Carré offered accounts spanning from 1672 to 1674 while Alexander Csoma de Kőrös and Ippolito Desideri documented regions often overlooked by mainstream historians.

How many titles has Asian Educational Services produced since its founding in 1973?

By 2016, the company had produced more than 1200 such titles. The publisher set out to give them a new life through careful reprinting to ensure rare linguistic materials remain accessible to scholars and students alike.

What award did Asian Educational Services receive in 2005 for its work?

Asian Educational Services received the National Award for Excellence in Publishing in 2005. This honor recognized the firm's dedication to preserving rare classics and keeping old books alive.

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All sources

7 references cited across the entry

  1. 1inlinePrince Frederick, "Collector's pride", The Hindu, 23 January 2013; updated 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. 2inlineAsian Educational Services: About Us, archive.org. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. 3inlineThe travels of the Abbé Carré in India and the Near East, 1672 to 1674, worldcat.org. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. 4inlineShades of gold and green : anecdotes of colonial Burmah, 1886-1948, worldcat.org. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  5. 5inlineThe commentary of Father Monserrate, worldcat.org. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. 6inlineVoyages and travels into Brazil and the East-Indies, 1640-1649 : containing the exact description of the Dutch Brazil and divers parts of the East-Indies, their provinces, cities, living creatures and
  7. 7inlineK. Srimali, "It is necessary to reprint rare classics, says publisher", The Hindu, 3 January 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2023.