HH Priya Nathji's favorite magazine - Illustrated Weekly

HH Priya Nathji’s favorite magazine was the Illustrated Weekly. Advertisement about the World Prayer Day was also is given to the Illustrated Weekly of India. Also when the beautiful photograph of Shri Nathji attending the marriage of the daughter of Maharaja Sarila at Mussoorie was also published in the same magazine in the 19230’s.

One of HH Priya Nathji’s favorite writer Khushwant Singh was also one of its editors for many years. In 1975, when HH Priya Nathji had written a letter to Khushwant Singh, informing Him about Shri Nathji, he had replied to the letter had expressed his desire to meet Shri Nathji, when He comes to Mumbai.  HH Priya Nath ji was very pleased with him, as in contrast to other editors of the Illustrated Weekly like N.V. Kamath and Pritish Nandy, who never bothered to reply, there was Khushwant Singh, ever polite, warm and humble. Priya Nath often thought that if their where more agnostics like him in the world, the world would be a much better place to live in.

The Illustrated Weekly of India was an English language weekly newsmagazine publication in India. It started publication in 1880 (as Times of India Weekly Edition, later renamed as The Illustrated Weekly of India in 1923) and ceasing publication in 1993. The Illustrated Weekly of India was considered to be an important English language publication in India for over a century.

The magazine was edited by A.S. Raman, Khushwant Singh, M. V. Kamath, and Pritish Nandy. A.S. Raman was the first Indian editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, succeeding Sean Mandy. Khushwant Singh who was then a sub-editor of the magazine took over as editor upon Raman's departure. Cartoons in the latter half of the magazine were by R. K. Laxman and Mario Miranda. It closed down on November 13, 1993.

Many young students of English used it as a regular reading and guide for honing English language skills in vernacular India. The Illustrated Weekly of India was an important English language publication in India over a century, bringing together the formation, and construction of a young nation.

The "Weekly", as it was called by its loyal readers defined the reading habits of at least two generations during the 1970s and 1980s, when it featured well researched articles, cartoons by Mario and R.K. Laxman, party jokes, western cartoons like Phantom, and glamorous models. A series "The India You Do Not Know" on different states of India and another on different communities of India became very authentic sources of reference during this period.