Established in 1929 by Sri V. Krishnaswamy Sarma in a humble manner, LIFCO has grown into a leading publishing house in South India, known for its dictionaries and its wide range of religious and educational books.
Founder of LIFCO, fondly known as LIFCO Sarmaji
How it began
Sri V. Krishnaswamy Sarma was born into a simple, orthodox Vaishnava family in Manjakuppam, near Cuddalore. A first-generation entrepreneur, he worked in Defence Accounts before moving to Madras to start a small publishing firm. He wanted books to reach the remotest corners of the state, and travelled to those places on a cycle to see what people needed.
In 1929 his learned principal, Rev. Fr. Verdure, gave the new venture its name: the Little Flower Company, or LIFCO. The name was chosen for the special fragrance of the Vakula flower, the magizhampoo. Through hard work, dynamism and perseverance, the founder built it into a dedicated institution.
“His vision was to spread education through publishing.”
His grandson, T.N.C. Vijayasarathy (The Hindu, 2013)
Books every family could afford
In the 1940s LIFCO’s books focused on school guides, English grammar and countless low-priced handy books. LIFCO was the first to bring out a series of very low-cost handy books in English and Tamil, priced at one anna.
In 1950 came the LIFCO dictionary, giving the meanings of English words in both English and Tamil, at just two rupees. It became part of almost every home in some form, and remains so today. LIFCO’s Big Letter Writer followed in 1952.
LIFCO was also the first to publish instruction books on Tamil stenography, a Tamil book on maintaining a bicycle, and a treatise in Tamil for the police and the public, among many other titles written for the common reader.
Taking books to the people
LIFCO was the first to take books to readers in mobile book vans. On 5 February 1954, C.R. Srinivasan, editor of Swadesamitran, inaugurated the LIFCO mobile book-service van, LIFCO on Wheels, and on 18 March 1956 he inaugurated a second, larger van. On Vijayadasami day, 11 October 1959, Sri C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), whose own works LIFCO published, saw LIFCO’s Book Show Cycle.
Photographs from LIFCO’s archives.
Books of devotion
In the 1950s LIFCO’s focus turned from guidebooks to religion and dictionaries. The shift to religious books came at the behest of the revered saint, the Kanchi Paramacharyal, who asked that LIFCO also dedicate its publishing to Hinduism.
LIFCO published a translation of Sri Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa by the Sanskrit scholar Sri V.S. Venkataraghavachariar, released at a public function by Sri C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer in 1952 and well received by scholars. Sri Mahabhakta Vijayam followed, telling the lives of saints such as Sri Purandara Dasa, Sri Jayadeva and Sri Tulasi Dasa, and then the Valmiki Ramayana in Tamil.
The first edition of the Ramayana, in 1964, was a monumental effort that ran to several volumes. It came with a carved wooden box to keep the sacred books, a chikku palagai (a small folding book holder) for reading, and a picture of Sri Rama printed on an aluminium plate.
A series of well-loved books followed: the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the sacred hymns of the twelve Azhwars; 108 Sri Vaishnava Divyadesa Vaibhavam, a popular guide for pilgrims; and books on daily prayers and rituals.
Service to the Divine
Through the LIFCO Charities Trust, LIFCO has offered 2,270 Sri Sataris (padukas, the lotus feet of the Lord) to Vaishnava temples, beginning at Srirangam in the 1940s. Sataris have been released by Presidents of India Sri R. Venkataraman and Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, by President Smt. Pratibha Patil in 2008, and by Dr. K. Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu. In 1977 LIFCO built a Tapomandapam at the place of Swami Sri Desika’s penance.
LIFCO was blessed to organise the Bhagavad Ramanuja Sahasrabdhi Mahotsavam through the LIFCO Charities Trust, marking the 1,000th year of the appearance of Swami Ramanuja. Events through the year included the Ramanuja Dharisanam rath yatra, Bhaja Ramanujam, a recitation competition for school children, Arpudha Ramanujar, a spiritual exhibition, and Jagadacharyan Bhagavad Ramanujar, an essay competition.
LIFCO has also instituted the Sri Ramanuja Seva Shri award, honouring the services of scholars, pandits, publishers, social reformers, trusts and organisations who carry forward the principles taught by Bhagavad Ramanuja, across caste, creed and religion. The award carries a gold coin bearing the image of Saint Ramanuja and a certificate of appreciation, presented on LIFCO’s anniversary or another fitting occasion.
Words of appreciation
Presidents of India, Governors and eminent people from many fields have praised LIFCO’s contribution to publishing good books at an affordable price. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam spoke of LIFCO’s place in his school life and the quest for knowledge it built. Mr. S.R. Nathan, former President of Singapore, praised LIFCO’s Paduka Sahasram on Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, a copy of which he treasured.
Milestones
- 1929 The Little Flower Company, LIFCO, is founded in Madras
- 1940s The first Sri Satari is offered, at Srirangam
- 1950 The LIFCO English-English-Tamil dictionary, at ₹2
- 1952 Raghuvamsa released by Sri C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer; LIFCO’s Big Letter Writer
- 1954 LIFCO on Wheels, the mobile book van
- 1956 A second, larger book van
- 1959 Rajaji sees the LIFCO Book Show Cycle on Vijayadasami day
- 1964 The Valmiki Ramayana in Tamil
- 1977 Tapomandapam at Swami Sri Desika’s place of penance
- 1979 LIFCO’s Golden Jubilee
- 2008 A Sri Satari released by President Smt. Pratibha Patil
- 2026 LIFCO books online
Today
From the vision of its founder, LIFCO has been carried forward by his family through three generations. Today it is led by its Chairman, Smt. Radha Vijayasarathy, with the same purpose: good books every family can afford, in Tamil and English, now delivered to your door.
“LIFCO will continue to surrender itself to the Divine and to the service of humanity.”