The series logo and jacket design were selected in an international design competition. The winning concept by Andrea A. Stranger was chosen for its grace, spirit, and timelessness. The elephant as a symbol has historic significance in both Indian and Western cultures. The pattern and the vibrant palette is characteristic of South Asia and complements the elegant Western typography.
In Spring 2021, we debuted a series of English translation-only short paperbacks based on the original Murty classic volumes. The paperback covers are designed by Gabriele Wilson.
Murty Classical Library of India volumes are designed by Rathna Ramanathan and Guglielmo Rossi of M9Design. The design is based on research on the history of the Indic book, including palm leaf and birch-bark manuscripts and early printed books. Inspired by polyphonic classical music, the layout highlights the unique nature of each classical text while adjusting to the needs of each Indic script. Following the intellectual mission of facing-page translations, the page spread is designed so text and translation reflect each other rather than allowing one to decide the other’s fate. The series design is based on the idea of “unity in diversity,” celebrating the individuality of each language while bringing them together within a single, cohesive visual identity.
Bangla text is set in the Murty Bangla typeface, commissioned by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. The design follows the manuscript tradition of letterform construction reintroduced to typography by Linotype Bengali in the late 1970s, but in a less condensed form with lower stroke contrast. Its proportions and overall texture are closer to those of metal types previously employed by the leading Kolkata publishing house, Ananda Bazar Patrika. The design of Murty Bangla is intended to provide excellent readability to the informed scholar and the contemporary younger reader alike.
Hindi text is set in the Murty Hindi typeface, specially commissioned for the purpose by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. The proportions and styling of the characters are in keeping with the typographic tradition established by the renowned Nirnaya Sagar Press, yet with a deliberate reduction of the typically high degree of stroke modulation. The result is a robust, modern design with clean lines and generously proportioned counters, which ensures optimum readability at both text and footnote sizes.
Kannada text is set in the Murty Kannada typeface, commissioned by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. The design takes inspiration from a range of sources—the crisp, open counters of the eighteenth-century types of the renowned Basel Mission Press; the styling of ligatures in the 1930s Kannada types offered by the Gujarat Type Foundry; and the dynamic stroke angles of unattributed types found in a twentieth-century Kannada Reader. Murty Kannada avoids the extreme high-contrast style of earlier designs and adheres to contemporary patterns of Kannada stroke modulation to ensure good readability for all sizes.
Panjabi text is set in the Murty Gurmukhi typeface, specially commissioned for the purpose by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. This original design reintroduces traditional stroke modulation patterns that are apparent in manuscript letterforms but which have been lacking in conventional Panjabi typography to date. The design consciously recalls forms found in the manuscript Prayer Book of Rani Jindan (British Library Panjabi MS D4).
Persian text is set in Nassim, an award-winning typeface designed by Titus Nemeth of TN Typography that has proven its versatility in complex typographic situations and has become particularly popular for Persian language setting. Fitting to its use in a new edition of classical literature, the type’s contemporary design is combined with elements derived from Islamic manuscript practice to make for a pleasant reading experience with sophistication in the details.
Sanskrit text is set in the Murty Sanskrit typeface, specially commissioned for the purpose by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. The proportions and styling of the characters are in keeping with the typographic tradition established by the renowned Nirnaya Sagar Press, yet with a deliberate reduction of the typically high degree of stroke modulation. The result is a robust, modern typeface that includes Sanskrit-specific type forms and conjuncts.
Telugu text is set in the Murty Telugu typeface, specially commissioned for the purpose by Harvard University Press and designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross of Tiro Typeworks. The type is inspired by those of the Swatantra Type Foundry in the shaping of the counters and the relatively high degree of stroke modulation for Telugu letterforms. Following the manuscript tradition, subscript letters are larger than in many fonts, making them more legible in text.
Translated into English by world-class scholars, reflecting the highest standards of contemporary book design, and featuring elegant, newly commissioned typefaces, these volumes are a modern invitation to diverse pre-modern literary worlds in languages such as Bangla, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Pali, Panjabi, Persian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The series will provide English translations of classical works alongside the Indic originals in the appropriate regional script. New books will be added to the series annually.
Translated into English by world-class scholars, reflecting the highest standards of contemporary book design, and featuring elegant, newly commissioned typefaces, these volumes are a modern invitation to diverse pre-modern literary worlds in languages such as Bangla, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Pali, Panjabi, Persian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The series will provide English translations of classical works alongside the Indic originals in the appropriate regional script. New books will be added to the series annually.
The Murty Classical Library of India (MCLI) Oversight Board, in consultation with the Provost’s Office at Harvard, the Harvard University Press Board of Directors, and Harvard University Press, decided to make changes to the MCLI Editorial Board at the end of 2023, in keeping with the governance requirements that such boards be periodically reconstituted and closely aligned with the original mission of the series.
All positions on boards associated with Harvard University Press have limited terms. This includes the Harvard University Press Board of Directors and the Murty Classical Library of India Oversight and Editorial Boards.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing MCLI Editorial Board members: Whitney Cox, Maria Heim, Rajeev Kinra, Francesca Orsini, and Archana Venkatesan, remarkable scholars who have made outstanding contributions to the MCLI series.
The MCLI Editorial Board currently has two members, Ranjit Hoskote and Mini Krishnan, and new members will be added to the Board during this academic year.
A fabled Muslim ruler, though not immune to shameless flattery, encouraged religious debate.
This translation of one of the oldest surviving literatures written by some of the first Buddhist women — or Theris — recount their lives pre-ordination and their joy in liberation.
