India, Nov. 8 -- Veteran publisher and founder of Mehta Publishing House, Anil Mehta, died of a heart attack in Kolhapur on Saturday. He was 86. His death marks the end of an era in Marathi publishing, with political leaders and members of the literary fraternity paying tribute to his contribution to Marathi literature and the growth of reading culture.

Founded by Mehta in Pune in 1976, Mehta Publishing House grew into one of the most recognised names in Marathi publishing, building a wide readership over the decades. Its catalogue spans several genres and includes works by leading Marathi authors as well as translations of acclaimed international literature.

From bookseller to publisher

Originally from Nipani in Karnataka, Mehta compl...