India Perspectives 10/2008

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008
India
ISSN 0970 5074
Perspectives
“ I am a great, fantastic accident of being the right person at the right place
at the right time. That is the description of my success...
”
Publishing in Indian
languages
INDRA NATH CHOUDHURI 2
Editorial Indian Fiction

K. SATCHIDANANDAN 6
Indian authors have, of late, become quite the rage internationally. Book publishing in humanities
and social sciences
”
Vikram Seth and Salman Rushdie, Shashi Tharoor and Amitav Ghosh,
SRIDHAR BALAN 11 Curry and rice and other
Shobhaa De and Jhumpa Lahiri. The list has been impressively expanding. things nice
It is important to recall that these are all authors whose original writing is KISHORE SINGH 32
in the English language. Several years ago, in 1912 in fact, a 51 year old
relatively unknown writer decided to try his hand at translating some of Educational Publishing
his own work while on a trip to London; it was his way of passing time.
He scribbled his translations in a notebook. Legend has it that one day
India Perspectives
AJAY SHUKLA 38
while alighting from the London subway, he left his briefcase behind SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 Publishing: Forward to
VOL 22, NO. 5
Greater Heights
which had the notebook. It was discovered and returned by a good and A Writer and His Workshop
Editor D.N. MALHOTRA 44
kind soul. A few months later, the scribbling was seen by W.B. Yeats, Amit Dasgupta TIRTHANKAR GHOSH 16
who was mesmerized. The rest, as we know, is history. In 1913, Assistant Editor Mahatma Gandhi’s Legacy
the writer was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature; his name was Neelu Rohra Bollywoodie Books! EDITOR 46
Rabindranath Tagore. Consulting Editor SURESH KOHLI 18
Newsline Publications Pvt. Ltd.
C-15, Sector 6, Noida-201301
Writing for Children
It is argued that Tagore might never have won the prize and thus, the
PARO ANAND 48
international recognition if his writings were not available in the English
language. The key, thus, lay in translations and in the availability of India Perspectives is published every month
in English, French, German, Spanish,
Indian writing in the English language. Without translations, a huge Portuguese, Russian, Sinhala, Bahasa
wealth of Indian writing remains denied to the world. This is true of Indonesia, Persian, Arabic, Pashto, Urdu,
Hindi, Bengali and Tamil. Views expressed in
other international languages as well. Imagine if we were denied the the articles are those of the contributors and
not necessarily of India Perspectives.
translations of writings by Hermann Hesse and Pablo Neruda, Gabriel All original articles, other than reprints
published in India Perspectives, may be
Marquez and Paolo Coelho! freely reproduced with acknowledgement.
Editorial contributions and letters should be A Concise History of
Indian book publishing has come a long way over the last sixty years. addressed to the Editor, India Perspectives, Illustrated Books
140 ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Today, over 90,000 books in English and in Indian languages are New Delhi-110001. KISHORE SINGH 21
Telephones: +91-11-23389471, 23388873,
published annually in India of which only around twenty per cent Fax: +91-11-23385549, The Indian Print Industry
E-mail: jspd@mea.gov.in,
represent English language book publishing. In other words, what is Website: http://www.meaindia.nic.in VIREN CHHABRA 54
available to the public as ‘contemporary Indian writing’ is, thus, only For obtaining a copy of India Perspectives,
please contact the Indian Diplomatic Mission
a mere fraction of what is produced. in your country. Copyright Laws in India 58
This edition is published for the
This Special Issue offers a glimpse into the world of Indian book publishing. Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, New Delhi World Book Fair
by Parbati Sen Vyas, Special Secretary,
Public Diplomacy Division. NUZHAT HASSAN 62
Designed and printed by Ajanta Offset &
Packagings Ltd., Delhi-110052.
Magic in
Amit Dasgupta
Words and Pictures
New Delhi, September 2008
ANANT PAI 26
New Age Books
S.K. GHAI 30
Publishing
in Indian languages
INDRA NATH CHOUDHURI
The Indian book publishing industry has seen rapid and

steady growth. Even so, there is abundant scope to improve
language publications which need a more professional
approach.
B ook publishing in Indian languages has assumed great

importance in view of the emphasis that has been laid on
literacy and the tremendous explosion of knowledge that we
witness today all over the world. The growth of the book industry is
stupendous and according to a computed figure 82,537 books were
published in all the Indian languages, including English, in the year 25 per cent of the total publishing adult but also to neo-literates as
2005. The job was actively performed by 16,000 publishers. According done in all the languages. well as illiterates too who do not
to this computed figure, English language publishing that is confined English follows with 20 per cent. read books by themselves but
to a few metropolitan cities, actually represents only about 20 per Next in line is a group of six buy books to get these read out
cent of the total Indian book publishing. Even then, it is a belief – a languages: Bengali, Malayalam, to them.
mistaken one – that only English language publishing represents Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and
Indian publishing. This hinders unwittingly a proper assessment of Telugu. After that the other five Even with a literacy figure of
Indian language publishing in 22 Indian languages recognized by the languages – if we club them on 65 per cent, India has a huge
Constitution of India. the basis of the number of books sea of humanity whose hunger
published – would be Assamese, for reading material cannot be
Looking at the language-wise figures for the year 2005, we realize
Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi and adequately satisfied by books
that the largest numbers of books are published in Hindi, i.e. about
Urdu. Following this group are annually. To augment this deficit,
four languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Indian publishers have to come
Konkani and Sindhi. The last is to the fore and publish books
Sanskrit. in Indian languages because
80 per cent of the demand for
Again, if we take a look at books is in Indian languages.
the readership figures, it is A book-reading nation is an
fascinating: there are more than enlightened one and such a
3306 universities, numerous society is sure to create a place of
colleges and schools and lakhs of honour for itself in the comity of
private centres which have never nations. In fact, to give a meaning
been enumerated. Add to that to Indian Independence through
the adult population of millions education for all, it is necessary
of people who read and buy all to encourage publishing in Indian
sorts of books. Indian publishers languages.
provide books not only for the
organized educational sector and The promotion of the reading
to book-lovers both young and habit of good books is an
INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 2 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 3

literary output. Even several
Indians have very little idea about
literature written in languages
other than their own. However,
one can notice a multilingual
translation boom in the country
but the picture still remains
lopsided. The Indian language
publishing industry needs to
focus on intra-lingual translations
as well as for translations in
English for the huge English-
oriented market. One can already
find translators exploring ways
in which the English language
can be stretched to contain
‘authentic Indian expressions’.
essential part connected with grow in terms of title output will be in great demand. In fact, in mind. According to a rough
Unless awareness is created
book production. The London and business returns. Today, social engineering is the topic of estimate, approximately 10,000
about our literature on the
Declaration ‘Towards a reading Indian publishing is one of the day, apart from indology and titles for children are published
home front, we cannot think of
society’, adopted at the UNESCO the largest in the world and spiritual continuity. every year in English and all the
any promotion of our literature
World Congress on Books in 1982 can be counted among the Indian languages put together.
abroad. Along with that, let us
points out, “We seek a world first seven publishing nations. The prospects of paperbacks This number is inadequate
try to enlarge our taste which
in which the ability to read and Professionalism, however, has and e-books are also increasing considering there are over one
is primarily a literary objective
the will and desire to enjoy the not yet entered the publishing everyday. In the last two decades, million primary schools in India.
connected with the development
fruits of reading are more widely industry. The producer-consumer the communication revolution
The need for professionalism of a critical apparatus that will
sought by all societies. We seek a ratio is erratic; no concentrated has changed the perspective
and organized activity in the help us to place our literature
world in which there are indeed research is done to know what a and lifestyle of people in the
language publication is the most alongside the literature from
books for all, but one also in reader wants. The industry rests developed as well developing
essential prerequisite. A weak Western countries. Only then will
which all can read and all accept on public expenditure and the countries. But coping with the
link in the book publishing the Western reader go beyond
books and reading as a desirable demand from individual buyers information revolution has
chain in Indian languages is the translation as a colonial curiosity
part of daily life. We look forward is small. However, the Kolkata created more problems rather
editing of manuscripts and proper and accept it as a comparative
not merely to a literate world but Book Fair that has three million than solving them particularly in
expertise in the production field discipline – which continues
towards a universal society”. The book lovers year after year with the field of education, children’s
and marketing. It is said that in to coexist simultaneously in
UNESCO, working on this thesis, sales over $ 568181.82 per day (in education and literature. In this
Indian language publishing we European practice today – and
declared that even for economic the 10-12 days of the fair) amply information madness, the market
start with publishing and end understand our literature in a
and social advancement, all debunks the above thesis. The has been flooded with quiz books
with publishing, doing nothing convincing way.
developing countries should give general picture seems to suggest and books of general knowledge ◆
much before or after publishing.
priority to literacy and education that a lot more books of a disseminating information in a The author has taught in universities in
Introduction of professionalism India and abroad and has held the post of
and for that purpose encourage serious nature related to political foreign language, which do not Secretary at the Sahitya Akademi (Academy
can be a great help in solving
indigenous book publishing. theories, scientific subjects, touch the minds of children. of Letters).
all these related issues in Indian
science fiction and history will As a result most of it becomes
language publication.
The Indian language publishing be the future demand in Indian irrelevant for them. Children
world has yet to show concern languages. It is also speculated today are overfed on information, One very important point is that
for developing its own concept by experts that books on subjects but starved for knowledge. in the West, Indian literature is
though the six decades after like communication networks, They need the support of good generally taken to be Indian-
independence have seen the science, environmental economy literature, especially created English literature which is only
language publishing industry and behavioural cross currents, for them, keeping their needs a minute fraction of the total

Indian Fiction
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
K. SATCHIDANANDAN
Indian fiction the product of a marriage between the

traditional form of story-telling and the Western fiction of the
Nineteenth century, has indeed come a long way.
T he ever-inventive Indian
imagination has been
weaving an endless web of
tales from time immemorial, from
the tribal tales and the fables
Kundera’s claim that the novel
is essentially a European form,
Indian novelists have handled
the genre with aplomb and have
made novel and short story to a
of Panchatantra, the stories of lesser extent, the chief mode of
Brihatkatha, Brihatkathamanjari, articulating their visions of life
the Jataka tales and the tales of and society. In the post-colonial mores and modes of perception the nation and conjuring it into stricken landscape of rural
the Vikramaditya to the novels era, Indian fiction, both in Indian and the fresh social dynamism being in his or her own way, Karnataka to its urban capital)
and stories of our own traumatic languages and in English entered set in motion by the emergence and often bringing a multiplicity or Devanoor Mahadeva
times. Modern fiction emerged in a process of self-renewal in of hitherto marginalised sections of perspectives into play (Kusumabale) an Oriya
India from an intimate interaction content as well as in form, in its of the society into democratic through a variety of characters writer like Gopinath Mohanty
between this storytelling attempt to grasp the profound awareness. While the new Indian from different strata of society. (Paraja or The Outcaste) or
tradition and the Western, contradictions of India’s fast- novel in English has attracted An activist Bengali writer like a Telugu writer like Unnava
especially British, fiction in the changing socio-political and international readership, more Mahasweta Devi or an Assamiya Lakshminarayana (Malappally
Nineteenth century. Despite Milan psychological reality, its new novels in the languages too are writer like Birendra Kumar or The Harijan Colony) might
getting translated into English and Bhattacharya privileges the tribal portray the reality of the Dalit
European languages than ever perspective (the former’s Aranyer (downtrodden, untouchable)
before. The Frankfurt Book Fair Adhikar or Right to the Forest) life with its sense of disgrace, its
in 2006 with India as the ‘Guest or the latter’s Iyyaru Ingam moral beauty and its desire for
of Honour’, a second time, and (People’s Region); a Tamil writer social emancipation. There are
the Paris Book Fair with accent like Bama (Kurukku – which in regional novels where particular
on Indian writing that followed Tamil means the sharp-edged stem regions and local histories are
have both demonstrated the new of the palmera tree) and (Sangati at the centre of attention like
enthusiasm Indian fiction has or Events), a Marathi writer like Phaniswar Nath Renu’s Maila
generated among readers and Lakshman Gaikwad (Uchalya – Anchal (The Soiled Border),
publishers in the West. a wandering tribe whose main Rahi Masoom Raza’s Adha Gaon
profession for ages has been (A village divided) in Hindi,
It has become a cliché of literary stealing) or Saran Kumar Limbale Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay’s
criticism to say that the novelists (Akkarmashee), a Gujarati writer Arogyaniketan (Unknown
in the so-called Third World like Joseph Macwan (Angaliyat Binding) or Shivram Karanth’s
‘narrate the nation’; however, on or The Stepchild), a Kannada Chomana Dudi (Choma’s
closer scrutiny we find that the writer like Siddalingaiah (Ooru drum) or U.R. Ananthamurthy’s
novelists narrate not one, but Keri – an autobiography of a Bharatipura in Kannada,
many nations, each imagining Dalit boy from the poverty- or M.T Vasudevan Nair’s

Gangopadhyay in Bengali Sen have now been joined by Longman, Rupa, Seagull and
(Darashuko), Vrindavan Lal scores of new and powerful several others, a greater part of
Verma in Hindi Jhansi ki Rani, writers from Sara Joseph, Gracy the excellent Indian writing in
(The Queen of Jhansi), Masti and Sitara of Malayalam to the languages is waiting to be
Venkatesha Iyengar in Kannada Ambai of Tamil, Volga of Telugu, discovered by the larger world.
Chikkaveera Rajendra (Life Bani Basu of Bengali, Moushmi
Indian fiction in English began
and struggle of Kodava King Kandali of Assamese, Sania of
receiving wider international
Chikkaveera Rajendra), Ranjeet Marathi and Geetanjali Sree of
acclaim with the publication of
Desai in Marathi Swami (The Hindi. There is a whole new
Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s
lord), Surendra Mohanty in Oriya generation of talented writers
Children. This is not to forget
Nila Saila (The blue mountain) in all the Indian languages
the contributions of pioneers like
and Viswanatha in Telugu from Nabarun Bhattacharya
R.K. Narayan, Raja Rao, Bhabani
Ekavira (The Solitary Hero) are in Bengali (Herbert) and Alka
Bhattacharya, Mulk Raj Anand,
some examples. Together such Saraogi in Hindi (Kolikata via
Nayantara Sehgal, Anita Desai
writers have covered a long Byepass or Kolkata through
and others. But there certainly
span of history from the twelfth the Bypass) to Jayamohan in
has been a paradigm shift with
century to the present with rare Tamil (Vishnupuram) and
the appearance of Rushdie,
imagination and historical insight. K.P. Ramanunni in Malayalam
Nalukettu (Ancestral house), Vikram Seth, Amitav Ghosh,
O.V. Vijayan, M. Mukundan, (Jeevitathinte Pusthakam, The
S.K. Pottekkaatt’s Oru Desathinte Allan Sealy and Arundhati Roy
Sethu, N.S. Madhavan and Paul book of life) who have already
Katha (The story of a village), who are free from the self-doubt
Zacharia in Malayalam, U.R. Krishna Baldev Vaid and Vinod proved their credentials as
Thakazhi Sivasankarapillai’s that seemed to have tormented
Ananthamurthy, Chandrasekhara Kumar Shukla in Hindi have all novelists of great talent. While
Kayar (Coir) or M. Mukundan’s their predecessors. These writers
Kambar and Poornachandra contributed to the modernisation a few of these masterpieces are
Mayyazippuzhayude and those who follow, like Kiran
Tejaswi in Kannada, of the genre by bringing in available in English – thanks to
Theerangalil (On the banks of Nagarkar, Kiran Desai, Rohinton
Sundararamaswamy and the complexities of modern publishers like Sahitya Akademi,
River Mayyazhi) in Malayalam Mistry, Gita Hariharan, Mukul
Jayamohan in Tamil, Suresh Joshi life – particularly its angst and National Book Trust (NBT),
or Sundararamaswamy’s Kesavan, Shama Futehally, Amit
in Gujarati, Bhalchandra Nemade alienation – and inventing new Katha, Macmillan, OUP (Oxford
Oru Puliyamarathin Kathai Choudhuri, Rukun Advani, Vikram
in Marathi and Nirmal Verma, structures and idioms that best University Press), Penguin,
(The story of a Tamarind Chandra, Altaf Tyrewala, Shashi
express their fresh perceptions Affiliated East-West, Orient
Tree) in Tamil. The partition Deshpande, Jhumpa Lahiri, Manju
of India is a recurring theme of life and mind. The rise of a Kapur, Ruchir Joshi, Radhika Jha,
in post-Independence fiction number of women writers in the Hari Kunzru, Anita Nair, Attia
as in Sunil Gangopadhyay’s languages in recent years has Hosain and several others are
Purab-O-Paschim (East and West) ensured the representation of not apologetic about writing in
in Bengali, Khushwant Singh’s women’s issues and women’s English; they consider English
A Train to Pakistan in English or perspectives in Indian fiction. a legitimately Indian language
Yashpal’s Jhoota Sach (The False They reexamine the patriarchal and use it with great ease and
Truth) in Hindi or Qurratulain canons and literary practices, creativity. They share discoursal
Hyder’s Aag ka Dariyaa (The re-vision myths, reinterpret epics devices and genres with their
river of fire) in Urdu as in the and forge a counter-language and language-counterparts. If R.K.
Urdu stories of Saadat Hasan found an alternative semiotics of Narayan’s Malgudi Days, Raja
Manto, Kishan Chandar and the body and beyond. Established Rao’s Kanthapura and Arundhati
Rajinder Singh Bedi. women novelists like Kamala Roy’s God of Small Things are
Das, Amrita Pritam, Krishna Sobti, Sthalapuranas or local histories,
The historical novel has remained Ashapurna Devi, Ajeet Cour, Allan Sealy’s Trotternama
a favourite genre with Indian Lakshmikantamma, Lalitambika follows the pattern of the nama
writers right from the beginning Antarjanam, Pratibha Ray, Indira or the Indian chronicle. Kiran
of novel in India. Shyamal Goswami and Nabaneeta Dev Nagarkar’s Cuckold is a new form

A Tradition of Excellence
BOOK PUBLISHING
IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SRIDHAR BALAN
Publishers of academic titles – especially humanities and

social sciences – in India have for a long time travelled a
lonely path. But that was yesterday. Today, there is a slew of
new work from old authors as well as new.
T here is a tongue-in-cheek
remark by the protagonist
Agastya Sen in Upamanyu
Chatterjee’s ‘English August’
while walking past the offices
colleague in the industry once
remarked that publishers are
incorrigible optimists and I think
this is best illustrated by the
nature of publishing in the social
of hagiography, Sashi Tharoor’s English novel is astonishingly It is quite likely that unexpected of two prominent publishers in sciences. Publishing here has
The Great Indian Novel is a wide: the fissures in the body- pathways may open up under the Delhi’s Ansari Road, ‘huge show- been traditionally characterized
mock-epic and Vikram Seth’s politic (Beethoven Among the pressures of the market economy, windows proudly displaying by low print-runs and even lower
Golden Gate is in the verse Cows), rising communalism (The globalisation and forced lethally dull titles’. Publishers margins. It’s almost as if every
narrative tradition. The direct Little Soldier), Emigration (The homogenisation of cultures. The of academic titles in India, publisher seems to want to ride
use of Malayalam words in The Glass Palace, A Sea of Poppies), inner cartography of liberalised particularly in the humanities his own hobby-horse and worse,
God of Small Things and the the? divided immigrant self India is likely to foreground new and the social sciences, have there are left-over stocks in spite
employment of native usages and (Satanic Verses), disorienting loss ethical questions about our social always been thought of as a of the modest print-run. The
proverbs as well as local customs (Afternoon Rag), post-colonial behaviour towards refugees, singular and rare breed. A senior scene seems to have been very
and manners in the works of history (Midnight’s Children, immigrants and the still un-
Khushwant Singh, Bhabani Shame, Trotternama), the mainstreamed populations, like
Bhattacharya, Raja Rao, Kiran celebration of hybridity (Moor’s the questions already raised by
Nagarkar, Kiran Desai, Kaveri Last Sigh, The Enchantress Rana Dasgupta and Kiran Desai
Nambisan and Vikram Seth point of Florence), the question of in their recent works.
◆
to a process of the nativisation identity (Namesake) and the The author is a Malayalam poet, bilingual
of English. Works like Salman changing Indian village (Nectar critic, former Secretary, Sahitya Akademi
Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, in a Sieve, Sunlight on a Broken (Academy of Letters), New Delhi
Upamanyu Chatterjee’s English, Column) are only some of the

August and Amitav Ghosh’s major thematic concerns raised
Sea of Poppies demonstrate a by these novelists. A new and
self-conscious questioning of lighter kind of writing seldom
linguistic boundaries. The new worried about literariness has
novelists interrogate the ‘purity’ also emerged with the work of
of Indian culture, accept English writers like Chetan Bhagat, Samit
as part of a sub-continental Basu and Meenakshi Madhavan.
polyphony and refuse to privilege Blogs, e-zines and Internet are
either tradition or modernity. also fast changing the nature of
The thematic range of the new literary communication in India.

impressive itinerary of launches What could be the reasons for in universities abroad. Today
and talks across Europe. this change? For one, the market our authors are internationally
for these books has expanded renowned scholars in the social
This period saw the flowering
both at home and abroad. We sciences and we also have an
and maturing of publishing in the
have seen an expansion of impressive number holding
humanities and social sciences.
higher academic institutions academic chairs abroad. Thirdly,
Old authors have produced new
across the country and more there is much more increased
work, new authors have been
are in the pipeline, going by the retail visibility for our academic
discovered and some mighty
Prime Minister’s recent speeches books today. As publishers
fine books have been produced.
to the nation. The setting of broaden their list to include both
What is even more remarkable
libraries in these institutions academic and general books
is that in this period it’s not just
has increased the demand for in the humanities and social
the big publishers like Oxford
academic books. Secondly, there sciences, they find that the books
and Cambridge who have
has been a prodigious amount gain ready acceptance in leading
grown and expanded their list
of scholarship both at home and bookstores. Fourthly, there is
but many new imprints have
abroad on India. Earlier, when much more visibility in the print
come up in the last decade like
our institutions were in a nascent media through reviews and
Permanent Black, Academic
stage, scholarship was propelled publication of extracts. Fifthly,
Foundation, Yoda Press, 3 Essays
by ‘Area Studies’ departments academic publishers have been
true of Agastya’s observation. In Collective, Indialog, Tulika and
the seventies and early eighties, feminist publishers like Zubaan
these modest print-runs were and Women Unlimited. What is
fixed on the basis of forecasts by even more remarkable is that an
the sales department and that too established distributor like Bahri
for an eighteen month period. has turned academic publisher
and a senior journalist has now
In the last two decades the an academic list, Imprint One.
situation for books in the
humanities and social sciences
has changed radically and for
the better, in fact for much
better. If we have to put this
chronologically, we would say
from the mid-eighties to the
present. India was accorded the
Guest of Honour status at the
Frankfurt Book Fair for the first
time in 1986. It was an occasion
for a larger than usual delegation
of academic publishers to attend
along with an impressive array of
authors who were given quite a
reception. The year 2006 marked
the second occasion when India
was accorded the same status
at Frankfurt and led to an even
bigger delegation of publishers
and authors, this time with an

and Sudhir Kakar in Social
are important, we must explore
Psychology and Psychoanalysis,
in the social sciences in the last additional ways of exhibiting
Rajni Kothari, Francine Frankel
able to tap into a growing export and 95000 copies in paperback. decade. Many of the books have and exposing our academic list
and Randhir Singh in Political
market as well. Lastly, technology These figures are remarkable gone into successive reprints abroad. This is fuelled by the
Science and A.K. Ramanujan,
has helped to improve our considering that Penguin had and the list is now over 200 titles belief that these books (with
Balachandra Rajan and Nissim
production standards and as selling rights only for South strong. Its rapid success resulted world rights) are of use to the
Ezekiel in Literature.
a result, our books are more Asia. No academic publisher will in one of the partners being international community and will
elegantly designed and produced. The academic success story has commission books to only add chosen for the prestigious ‘Young find their place in a reading list
The new ‘Print on Demand’ prompted even avowedly trade to the front list; most of the titles Publishers’ Award’ by the British for academic courses on South
technology (POD) has resulted in publishers like Penguin to add must have backlist potential, Council recently. Asia.
an academic book never going on a general list by academic that is, they must have prospects ◆
The author was formerly Director,
out of print provided it’s in a authors to their growing fiction of being reprinted and must The growing has also resulted Oxford University Press.
digital format. and non-fiction trade list. Oxford sell year after year. In short, in established imprints like
University Press began its Oxford they must become works ‘of Routledge to commission authors
The contributions of authors from in the humanities and social
India Paperbacks (OIPs) list in enduring value’. Older academic
India in the social sciences and sciences from India. We may
a new avatar (it had paperbacks publishers have established a
humanities have substantially yet see more academic imprints
before), about two decades relationship with their authors
added to our knowledge in specializing in the humanities
ago. Originally, it started to put for the last thirty years or more
these subject areas and have
❛❛
successful hardbacks into the and some of their works have and social sciences as the market
also enhanced their academic continues to grow. The recent
paperback format. It has now attained the status of classics.
reputation both at home and
acquired a status and distinct The most remarkable example of interest in translations from the Publishing is a creative
abroad. Mention may be made regional languages into English business. Discover
identity of its own. Some new this is of course the Jim Corbett
of the contributions of scholars has allowed regional classics
like Amartya Sen, Sukhamoy
titles are commissioned into the corpus (not strictly academic). creativity and joy in this
OIP format straightaway. The list ‘Man-Eaters of Kumaon’ was first to access a bigger market, and business where you meet
Chakravarty, K.N. Raj, Amit this has led some publishers to
is now over 500 titles and still published in India in 1944 and
Bhaduri and Kaushik Basu in include translated works in their and interact with scholars,
growing and has established a the rest as they say is history.
Economics, D.D. Kosambi, humanities list. writers, poets and artists.
firm clientele among academics All of Corbett’s works have been
Irfan Habib, Romila Thapar,
and general readers. continuously in print ever since, The business of publishing
Mushirul Hasan and Ranajit Publishing in the humanities
a remarkable saga of publishing can enrich your life in
Guha in History (in fact, Guha’s Let us try and illustrate this and the social sciences in India
continuity.
editorship of the volumes under growing market. Amartya Sen’s needs to be sustained. While many ways.
the ‘Subaltern Studies’ series was ‘The Argumentative Indian’ A comparative newcomer in
❜❜
international book fairs like
a seminal and pioneering piece of commissioned by Penguin UK academic publishing, Permanent Frankfurt, London, the Salon du
scholarship, M.N. Srinivas, Andre through its Allen Lane imprint Black has succeeded in Livre in Paris, Beijing, Tokyo Vishwanath Malhotra
Rajpal and Sons Group
Beteille, Ashis Nandy in Sociology sold 25000 copies in hardback establishing an impressive corpus and more recently, Abu Dhabi

house. It does not print well-
A Writer known names; it makes names

known and well-known,
and His Workshop and then leaves them in the

loving clutches of the so-
called ‘free’ market (which
can be and is very cut-throat
TIRTHANKAR GHOSH
and very expensive). It is not
sad, it is obnoxious, to plead,
A true patron of literature, the Kolkata-based Writer’s as publishers do,’ I will not
Workshop, has provided the springboard for some of the best publish poetry because it does
Indian writers in English for the last fifty years. not sell.’… In the words of
Professor Lal “Because WW
goes in for serious creative
W hat is the connection between rejection slips and Professor

Purushottam Lal in Kolkata? Well, a lot. Professor Lal,
a teacher of English literature, runs Writer’s Workshop,
described as “the iconic literary publishing house”. In its fifty years
writing, and because there is no
satisfactory distribution network
for such writing, its terms of
publication are unique, I must
of existence, Professor Lal has with seven other writers, some be the only publisher in the
single-handedly encouraged, of who are well-known names world who knows when and
published and even projected today – Deb Kumar Das, Anita where every book is sold.”
writers, who would otherwise Desai, Sasthibrata Chakravarti
May the uniqueness of Writer’s
have stopped writing after (Sasti Bratha), William Hull, Jail
Workshop live on!
receiving rejection slips from Ratan, Kewlian Sio and Pradip ◆
publishers. Among them are Sen – got together to start a The author is a senior journalist with
Newsline Publications Ltd.
Vikram Seth, Asif Currimbhoy, magazine which would publish
Nissim Ezekiel, Jayanta their work and so, was born
Mahapatra, Ruskin Bond, Pritish Writers Workshop Miscellany
Nandy, Chandrakant Bakshi and and later Writer’s Workshop.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
In the five decades of its
It was Professor Lal – a
existence, WW has produced ❛❛
books which are virtual works Translations are the
poet best known for his
“transcreation” (as he terms it)
of art. Each book is bound next big thing for the
in hand-spun saree cloth and Indian publishing industry.
of the entire Indian epic poem
printed on handmade paper
Mahabharata into English –
who could foresee the creative
with their titles inscribed with ❜❜
Professor Lal’s calligraphy. Mita Kapur
talent of all those who had Siyahi Literary Consultancy
been rejected by established Driven by schoolboyish
publishers. Credited as “the enthusiasm, Professor Lal
rare lover of literature who can espoused the cause of what he
spot beauty before glowing terms “alternative publishing”.
blurbs have been written about Such publishing is “desperately
it and the rare publisher who needed wherever commercial
doesn’t shudder at the thought publication rules. WW is not
of poetry”, Professor Lal along a professional publishing

Bollywoodie Books!
Not many books have succeeded He started a trend. Even though
nationally but many of them several other biographies of
have worked their magic film personalities followed
overseas. Despite the Rs. 3,000 soon after – notably Nabendu
SURESH KOHLI (US$ 70) price tag and a weight Ghosh’s non-commissioned
of almost four kilograms, Still volume on Ashok Kumar and
Filmstars will continue to generate interest – on-screen and Reading Khan is hugely popular the “authorized” Dadamoni by
globally. Not many authorized Kishore Valicha, Raju Bharatan’s
off-screen – and publishers have found that their personal biographies of some popular stars Lata Mangeshkar and Rachel
lives make good material for books. Often hurried and off- have worked with the readers, Dwyer’s book on Yash Chopra –
the-cuff, most of these books do not click in the market but though Jerry Pinto’s racy book they all suffered from the same
authors and publishers remain unfazed. Yet, Big B and the on the gorgeous Helen became malady: they were lifeless and
a runaway hit despite the author based on unconfirmed material.
great Khan sell! never having met the subject! Though Bharatan scored on
facts, he was spurned by Lata.
T here has been a steady stream of books on Bollywood. But, Although it all began many She, therefore, felt compelled to
despite continuing craze among the young about filmstars, the decades ago when, a raw, commission an authorized book
response – with the possible exception of the ones on Shah Rukh unemployed, ambitious and by Harish Bhimani. And that
Khan – hardly justify the retrace and one-upmanship that the trade hungry youngman called Vinod attempt was worse. This was all
has been witnessing for the past couple of years. Perhaps, the only Mehta (editor of the weekly so very appetizing. Bollywood,
book that defied sceptics – and those who are ruing their stars for not Outlook) took a plunge and like Hollywood, thrived on gossip
gauging its potential – is Dev Anand’s autobiography, Romancing with published an ill-researched and characters that were larger
Life, which did remarkably well. Unlike his recent films, the response biography of Meena Kumari. than life!
to the book has been astonishing. It has sold more than 20,000 copies
in less than a year! Books on Shah Rukh Khan seem to have bettered Shah Rukh Khan’s career is the kind of success story that place and a special effects set-up and a studio in the works, ROLI
that performance. colours movielore – the outsider who gatecrashed into
Bollywood and stayed on to reach superstardom, leaving all
his aim of becoming the complete movie moghul now
looks achievable.
”
his contemporaries behind. When a star of his stature approaches a career
Over the last decade or so, as Hindi cinema has grown milestone of sixty films, and gets to a stage where he
and reached out to audiences across the world, especially clearly needs to chart unexplored territory, it is perhaps
King Khan
the South Asian diaspora, Shah Rukh’s fame and popularity time for a mid-career assessment. That is what Deepa
have grown in proportion. He personifies the media-savvy, Gahlot, journalist, critic, columnist, editor, author and
money-smart, focused professional that today’s world screenwriter, attempts to do in this book, by analysing the
idolizes. He made movies that were blockbusters, he various phases of Shah Rukh’s life and career and putting
created the SRK brand, and with a production company in them in perspective.
Deepa Gahlot
ISBN: 978-81-7436-503-3
Roli Books
Lustre• Press
ROLI
A Concise
History of Illustrated Books
T H E B O L LY W O O D S A G A
KISHORE SINGH
What illustrated books, produced in India, lack by way of a

long past, they have more than made up for in content. Slick
and beautifully illustrated, in full colour, with pictures taken
JITENDRA KOTHARI
DINESH RAHEJA
by Indian photographers, these are expensive tomes but
Indian Cinema hugely popular.
THE BOLLYWOOD SAGA
W hen you think that for hundreds of years the ateliers of Indian
DINESH RAHEJA ■ JITENDRA KOTHARI
Roli Books
Lustre• Press
Foreword Ismail Merchant

ISBN: 81-7436-285-1
rulers engaged quite literally thousands of cartographers
and illustrators to create books with the most exquisite
images, and that printing became a force to reckon with, when
coffee table books on Kishore
Kumar and one on Dev Anand,
a memoir of Mrinal Sen and an
autobiography of Manna Dey.
Bollywood is big. It is here to
stay. The lives of those who
created Bollywood legitimately
remain a matter of interest both
within India and abroad, where
they have captured hearts even
among those who rarely wept
or smiled in public! Who knows,
someday we may get Bollywood
speak. Kya baat hain!
◆
The author writes on cinema.
As in acting, the Big B or In recent times, countless coffee

Amitabh Bachchan, has the and non-coffee table books have
maximum number of books hit the book stalls, and many
written on him. It began with a more are to follow. There are at
much-hyped, crude-compilation least four books on Dilip Kumar,
of random interviews, five more narrative books on Pran, Amrish
have since followed and some Puri, Vyjantimala and Rajinikanth,
more are round the bend. Well, an awful coffee table book
what a man! on Hema Malini, two ‘semi’-

a robust reading public. But consumption, or as referrals for there were hardly any printing
here, beautifully illustrated, in the expat community in residence presses of quality at the time,
full colour, with pictures taken in India, or as souvenirs for and the few that did deliver
by Indian photographers, were returning tourists? international (often erratically)
books that – well, getting down quality were expensive because
to brass tacks: who did they When one marvels at the plethora of the high duties charged on
cater to? They were expensive. of illustrated books in the market imported art paper and printing
They were on Indian subjects today, it is difficult to imagine inks. Publishers, therefore,
that many would take for that these were quite legitimate found it less expensive to print
granted but hardly knew enough questions that publishers were overseas, seeking out markets
about. So were they intended racked by. The answers often as diversified as Scandinavia,
as ready-reckoners for domestic impacted printing decisions – for Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand and
the painter Raja Ravi Varma of the first illustrated books, was
bought a German printing perhaps overstated.
press for flooding the market
with inexpensive copies of his Indian publishing in non-
paintings, …then the hysteria academic subjects and books
in India that surrounded the may have dealt in low volumes
publishing, in the early eighties, but, nevertheless, catered to

Singapore – the last becoming the And, what a rich array of content
most popular. they provide us with! There is
Bollywood and its stars, there’s
But what of the books
ancient India, the past so ripe
themselves? Initially at least it
with nostalgia as commemorative
seemed that most publishing
anniversaries keep the printing
houses seemed to find the tourist
presses spinning overtime, there
markets most attractive, and the
is a vibrant culture, there’s design
titles that appeared seemed to
in architecture and interiors,
cater to this: there were books on
the evergreen maharajas and
the Taj Mahal (oh, a lot of books
their storehouses of wealth
on the Taj Mahal) and on Agra,
and heritage, of palaces and
on Rajasthan, on Goa, on India
collectibles, vintage cars, musical
(the ultimate take-home), on the
instruments, of fashion and
Ajanta and Ellora caves... and as
fashion designers…
ambitions grew, specialisations
grew too, so there were books The art books are another matter
on the Himalayas, on wildlife, altogether. Seemingly impervious
on the beaches, on railway to costs, or size, or extent, they
journeys, and later, as markets pay homage to artists, or genres,
expanded, on books that had If the tourist books required or exhibitions, or periods such
nothing to do with tourists at all: translations into French and that they are a pleasure no less
on the Sikhs, on local customs German and Italian and Spanish, equivalent to possessing a rare
and practices, on ritual and art... the more specialised books painting. They foray into artist’s
And, of course, there was the (sometimes even on familiar studios, study their best years,
Kamasutra. subjects) created legends around capture different moods, or even
into different mediums, each
work precious beyond compare
(particularly if you’re resourceful
enough to also have them signed
by the artist(s) in question –
Satish Gujral, S.H. Raza, Thota
Vaikuntam, Paresh Maity, Sunil
Das, M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta…
Sometimes these books find
Indian lensmen – Raghu Rai publishing industry – language, professional publishers, but often
was feted for the quality of chief among them, but also they have been created and
his pictures; the Bedi brothers adaptability, design aesthetics promoted by art galleries.
became celebrated for their and the technology to support
What a long journey it has been
books on wildlife (the films were it, the ability to work fast, and
in a short time. Maybe it’s time
to follow), and some of India’s to oversee production down
someone wrote an illustrated
best writers began their forays to the last detail. It is these
book on the illustrated books of
into writing supporting texts for that have marked the growing
India!
these tomes (Khushwant Singh, phenomenon of illustrated books ◆
Ruskin Bond). becoming part of the mainstream The author is a senior editor with the
financial daily Business Standard.
with some of the world’s most
There are certain inherent phenomenal books now being
strengths in the Indian published from the subcontinent.

Magic in Words and Pictures
ANANT PAI
It has a status that can rival global brands like Superman and Batman. Steeped in the
timeless folklore and mythology of India, Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) has transcended every
conceivable barrier to create a place for itself in the hearts of most Indians.
I t was just another day in

1967 and I happened to be
witness to an inter-school quiz
competition. The perky twelve
year olds in their smart uniforms
created in the lives of young
children, depriving them of
their grand-mothers fascinating
tales. However, what was meant
to be a source of knowledge
as well as on popular culture.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee and former President
Abdul Kalam have praised
ACK for the influence it has
were an inspiring sight as they for children, is now read by had in shaping generations of
confidently responded to a range adults as well. With several Indians. Captains of industry like
of diverse questions from the PhD dissertations and books Infosys founder N.R. Narayan
World Wars to Greek mythology. written on ACK, by both Indians Murthy have gone on record
However, when it came to Indian and foreign nationals alike, the saying, “Amar Chitra Kathas are
history and mythology, the same brand has gone on to acquire a a glorious tribute to India’s
twelve year olds seemed quite cult status like no other Indian rich cultural heritage. These
stumped. It was a moment of publication before. It is probably books have been an integral
revelation for me. I felt it my the only Indian imprint to have part of my children’s early years,
duty to acquaint this generation sold over 90 million copies as they have been for many
of future Indians with the whole worldwide. families across India and the
world of heroes that I had come world.”
to know through stories from my ACK has had a deep impact on
people across all walks of life, Religious leaders like Cardinal
parents and grandparents.
Lawrence of the Catholic Bishops
That was how Amar Chitra Katha Conference have also lauded
(ACK) was born. Starting off as ACK. Several schools in India
a single thirty two page comic use ACK as part of their history
book on Lord Krishna (for what curriculum and experiments have
better a medium than comics to shown how students absorbed
connect to the youth!), ACK has a lot more when taught through
culminated in a treasure trove of comics. What set ACK apart were
Indian culture – over 400 titles the world class illustrations, some
on Indian epics & mythology, titles taking as many as two years
bravehearts, visionaries, fables, to draw! ACK has, hence, found
folklore and literary classics in a unique place in popular art and
over 20 Indian languages! For culture. ACK recently inspired
40 years now, ACK has helped a modern art exhibition at the
Indians, both living in India and National Art Gallery and is used
abroad, to discover a route to as reference material by all the
their roots. It has filled a gap that major graphic design institutes of
the advent of nuclear families the country.

the company plans to launch Another imprint from the ACK like Shakuntalam. Charkha has
campaigns with social messages family is Karadi Tales – the also released audio books on
like “Know India” in schools and pioneer in audio and video books “Listening to Poetry” narrated by
bookshops across the country. from India. Narrated by some leading orators including Tom
of the best known personalities Alter – these cover the poetry
In line with its philosophy
from cinema like Naseerudin prescribed in the class 9-12
of providing wholesome
Shah, Usha Uttup and Shekhar CBSE syllabus and aim to make
edutainment, the ACK family has
Kapur, Karadi Tales presents the subject more interesting for
grown to include several other
Indian mythology and folklore children.
imprints – the most popular being
in audio and video formats, that
Tinkle – India’s largest selling It has been 40 years since it all
children can learn to read along
English children’s magazine, began and ACK continues to
with. In fact, a methodology to
founded in 1980. With the motto be the leader in high quality
teach children a second language
of “Where Learning Meets Fun”, India-centric family edutainment.
based on audio books, called the
Tinkle is a magazine in comic Happy reading my dear friends –
Karadi Path has been devised.
form for pre-teens and receives Know India!
This has been successfully piloted ◆
over 200 letters from readers The author is founder editor emeritus and
as an English learning aid in
every week. Tinkle characters like chief story teller of Amar Chitra Katha.
government schools in Tamil
ACK is available in over generation. We have realised that Suppandi, Shikari Shambu, Kalia
Nadu and Goa, and can also be
1500 bookstores across to effectively pique the interest the Crow and Tantri the Mantri
used to teach Hindi and other
have acquired an iconic status of
❛❛
India – right from Srinagar of today’s youth, ACK has to be
regional languages to children of
to Tiruvananthapuram and present in multimedia formats. their own, akin to the Disney and
Indian origin whose first language Don’t limit a child to your
Ahmedabad to Guwahati. Hence, the team is now working Hannah Barbara characters from
is English.
Titles have been translated into on creating multimedia versions abroad. After 28 years, the Tinkle own learning, for he was
French, Dutch, German, Bhasha of ACK stories for TV, online family of magazines continues Karadi Tales also has an imprint born in another time.
Indonesia, Swahili and even services, mobile applications to have an annual circulation called Charkha Audio Books for
Serbo-Croat! and strategy games. ACK has of 2 million copies and several adults. The constantly expanding ❜❜
two studios – in Bombay and parents confess to reading their catalogue includes biographies of Rabindranath Tagore
ACKs next challenge is being Bangalore – that are developing children’s Tinkles and reliving Mahatma Gandhi, JRD Tata and
relevant to today’s internet this new content. In addition, their childhood! Abdul Kalam, as well as epics

New Age Books ❛❛
When disappointment
stares me in the face
S.K. GHAI
and I see not one ray
of light, I go back to the
New Age is about getting back to nature, the way we were
Bhagvad Gita. I find a
meant to be, by rejecting values and lifestyles that harm
verse here and a verse there
nature, both within us and outside of us. The ultimate aim
and I immediately begin
is to attain optimum physical, mental, emotional, spiritual
to smile in the midst of
and social health and it is primarily through a new genre
overwhelming tragedies.
of books that information about this lifestyle is being
propagated. ❜❜
Mahatma Gandhi
I n today’s stressful times people are looking for more natural

and holistic ways to maintain good health; not only their
physical health but also their mental and spiritual health.
New Age is based on a back to nature philosophy and a quest Given the sudden surge in
for spiritual ideals and beliefs that contributes towards creating a interest in New Age books,
healthy mind, body and spirit. Increasingly, our work is becoming they are now increasingly being
more and more demanding. Keeping our stress at healthy levels translated in large numbers
becomes a daunting task. Well-being encompasses all parts and worldwide. The books from
not just the physical. It is important to create a balance in life India have great potential.
by nurturing our whole person which includes spiritual, mental, The Indian saints, spiritual
emotional and physical needs. gurus, ayurvedic and yoga
practitioners have played an
important role in creating
the market for such books.
Indian philosophy has found
new meaning and readership
especially at a time when
Vegetarianism too is a part of the world seeks peace,
this balance. More and more understanding and humanism.
people all over the world are ◆
longer, are healthier and have The author is a leading publisher and is on
turning to vegetarian cuisine. the editorial board of Publishing Research
more productive lives.
Medical studies demonstrate Quarterly, New York.
that a vegetarian diet is easier New Age books play an
to digest, provides a wider important role in creating that
range of nutrients and impresses balance in life. These books
fewer burdens and impurities discuss nontraditional therapies
on the body. Vegetarians are to promote health and wellness.
less susceptible to all the major These include Metaphysical
diseases that afflict present-day healing, faith healing, spiritual
civilization; as a result they live healing and self-help.

Curry and rice
and other things nice
KISHORE SINGH
Indian publishing is fattening on the spoils of the kitchen.

As cookbook writers – there are as many accomplished ones
as there are wannabes – vie with each other to dish out a
variety of recipes with the most enticing photographs, readers
are lapping them up with equal speed.
I f there is at least one

(thankfully unwritten) book in
every person, it is equally true
that everyone wants to write a
cookbook, or a book of recipes,
restaurant openings, a greater
availability of ingredients (local
as well as imported) and a
growing taste for exotic foods, it
is inevitable that the written word
equally for his meals with which
he admittedly seduced impossibly
highly-paid Hollywood stars to
act in their celluloid productions.
is because Ismail’s personality
is missing – what he served up,
and how, his witty conversation,
his flourish and the magic that
or something nostalgic about the that holds them together in a And he often rustled up these summed up his chimera-like
way mummy-made-it. complicated skein will itself grow. meals, so he himself said on persona can hardly be breathed
occasions, with almost nothing into the experimentation you
But who is a cookbook writer? see before you on your kitchen
Housewives, celebrity chefs, in his refrigerator, or at best
Or more pertinently, who is best counter. Proving not that you
students, food journalists – almost hurriedly-purchased from the
equipped to write cookbooks? yourself are bad but that, ergo,
everyone is churning them corner stores. But Merchant-
out faster than you can count Ismail Merchant, who gave us Ivory’s food, like their cinema, the best mysteries of food remain
them. With the food industry cinema’s most beautiful, most was ephemeral, a moment just that: better to read.
booming with groaning shelves enduring images – along with of magic construed up with
Yet others translate their efforts
of processed food packages, James Ivory – became an icon cinematic flourish – they were
into words, pages, memories,
clearly more innovative than
recipes, so much more
purist chefs. It was inevitable that
effortlessly. Madhur Jaffrey, the
they should write a cookbook or actress and grande dame of
two and they did, and like most cookbooks, turns out reams of
such books, these flew off the pages almost like a one-woman
shelves, to be devoured by those factory, her anecdotes allowing us
who call this kind of reading as much pleasure into our own
gastronomic pornography. childhoods of stolen mangoes
cooling in buckets of water, as
But here comes the crunch: try
her recipes that actually work!
and follow Ismail’s recipes and
And yet, when Madhur started off
you will wonder what the fuss
in London, she barely knew how
was all about. You will find his
to brew herself a cup of tea.
recipes easy enough, but the
result too is equally simple and, Ritu Dalmia, the eponymous
perhaps, less impressive than diva of Diva (an iconic Italian
you might have thought. That restaurant in Delhi), who turned

on how to make an instant
dhokla, turn out a meal for six
in a half-hour, turning nervous
newly-weds into almost faultless
chefs with whom even the most
demanding of mothers-in-law
could find nothing to cavil about.
How far we in India have

travelled from the cookbooks
from foreign shores that would
land up in our bookstores,
pretty with pictures, great as
a nation of dal-makhni diners India has had its legions of housewarming gifts, but oh, how
into Italian gourmands, has just food writers. Tarla Dalal and impractical! The ingredients,
had her book on Italian cooking Nita Mehta have for years held especially back then, were hardly
published – and what a delight the mythical hands of nervous available. Besides, did anyone
it is! The girl-from-a-vegetarian- brides and first-time party- know what margarine was? Or
household who turned hobby throwers through the mysteries shortening? But because we loved
chef writes just as brilliantly as of everything from mutton all food books, loved them almost
she cooks, and it shows in her do-piyaza to paneer jalfrezi, Chettinad, Syrian Christian, Only Sanjeev Kapoor does it with more than our other books, we
recipes, with the helpful hints from tacos to tiramisu, with Punjabi, Bengali or Rajasthani. more flourish. The chef whose had shelves full of them: books
and suggestions allowing you such élan, you wonder at their These aren’t pretty books to awkwardness showed when he on children’s party menus, five-
enough confidence to replace industriousness. Their recipes be read for sheer pleasure, but first made an appearance on minute snacks, cocktails and main
one ingredient with another, one are simple and, what’s more, instructional, practical ones that television, may have shed some courses with pork, chicken, fish,
herb with another, without the adaptable: the Italian, Mexican, tell you how to make a soufflé of that tentativeness, but he seafood; we had the Reader’s
unpredictability of results. Now, Greek, Thai, Burmese, Japanese that will rise, and a caramel created a legion of millions of Digest compendium that told us
that is a cookbook! are almost as easy as the Gujarati, pudding that will set. fans who craved for instruction how to make the perfect brown

sauce; and prettily illustrated ones a little help with brushes of launched: scholars and stars
on how to make an upside down oil) and just as suddenly, food in equal measure, Kulsoom
pineapple cake, muffins and stylist was a job description. Begum and Salma Hussain
breads. Food photographers needed to edging off Monish Gujral and
be trained, artful devices were Rakhi Dasgupta, behind whom,
It was the nineties before we
needed to make the food stand I find, turmeric-stained pages
saw the arrival of the Indian
out, and it became impossible of frequently-visited books by
equivalents, the small handbooks
to imagine a cookbook without Jasleen Dhamija and Megha Patil
of handy recipes for gulab
pictures. and Bilkees Latif. There, a book
jamun and rassogolla, for chole
on Goan cooking, here a page-
bhature and parathas and The exciting thing was that
turner on royal recipes – and
daals, rice and biryanis. That foreign readers (and publishers)
how could I miss the one on
was when the cult started too loved Indian cookbooks with
curries and rice?
of ambitious, but also lush, just as much passion as we in ◆
cookbooks, where photography India did. No longer put off The author is a Senior Editor with the
financial daily Business Standard.
was even more important than by the exotic ingredients (or
the recipes. And there we were, maybe the growing diaspora
suddenly bewitched by how meant you could find it anyway
the tadka daals that we hadn’t
even glanced at, now served up
in all the little Indias springing
across continents and cities), you ❛❛
perhaps rightly so – were called I feel the future lies in
so appetisingly in their glossy couldn’t find enough people to
in to contribute their secret going global… The Indian
pages. The meats glistened (with write them for you. Chefs – and
recipes to collective efforts, or
given over complete and quite
publishing industry is in
lavish books to assemble, and for a major growth due
they did it with aplomb. to the large addition of
Specialist publishing houses retail space and here the
hunted out the names that future lies in packaging the
counted for something from material for the masses.
the world of Indian cuisine
– sometimes they were ❜❜
professionals, such as Karen Pramod Kapoor
Anand or Rashmi Uday Singh Roli Books
still by the fabulous recipes first
or Camellia Panjabi who made
put together by those demi-gods
the gourmet Indian restaurant
of Indian cooking: the perniticky
first possible in London; at
Jiggs Kalra and Digvijai Singh
other times, they were simply
Sailana.
people who knew how to
cook an awesome meal, throw Our shelves swelled some
an awesome party. Popular more with hard bounds and
publishing houses looked at paperbacks, and we read more
anthologies on food writing, and more about food (did
and went to experts to deliver we cook less and less in the
gourmet reads on travelogues bargain?), and as we surrendered
that were based on the discovery to the pleasures of imagined
of regional cuisines. Everyone gastronomic heavens, it became
found their own followers, but clear that there were other stars
housewives who knew, swore waiting on the horizon to be

Educational Publishing
A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES
AJAY SHUKLA
No international publisher can afford to ignore the

opportunities that are available in India. With one of
the largest and fastest growing publishing markets in
the world, the country’s educational publishing is
“Open for Business”.
T he strides made by India

in the education sector
in its sixty two years
of independence have been
impressive. Our literacy level,
The government policy direction
is focused on increasing the
budget allocation for educational
infrastructure development,
reforms in the education sector to
All) initiative that has helped
double the enrolments at the
primary school level and new
plan outlays to create world-class
centres of higher learning like the
around eighteen per cent at the encourage private participation, Indian Institutes of Technology
time of independence in 1947 enhanced quality through (IITs) and Indian Institutes of
rose to nearly sixty five per cent skill up-gradation and use of Management (IIMs).
in 2001. There is a sense of information and communication
recognition and urgency amongst technology and inclusiveness Creation and dissemination of
the policymakers that education through affirmative actions to quality educational content is
at all levels through improved encourage ‘education for all’. a key component of upgrading
access, quality and relevance is our knowledge assets, and the
critical to achieving India’s vision There are several success stories Indian book publishing industry
of being a knowledge society in of the hugely successful Sarva has played a vital role in the
the 21st century. Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for creation and management of the

Total school enrolments in
India are 170 million, college
enrolments 10.4 million and an
estimated 2.5 million knowledge
professionals (IT, Software).
This makes India one of the
largest education markets in
the world. Affordability is the
top consideration for textbook
purchases due to India’s low
GDP/per capita of US$3,800.
Prices range between $2 and $10
and textbook prices are amongst
the lowest the world! Most
publishers align the production
ten to twenty per cent per US$ 1 billion (500 million in values appropriately through
annum. Such growth trends are English) while higher education black and white printing, soft
knowledge resources at all levels India has 22 official languages, expected to continue in the next and professional segments are cover and cheaper paper to
of the education system. and books are published in all five to ten year horizon with worth $ 500 million (300 million meet price. Professional books,
these recognised languages. planned increases in education in English). especially medical, scientific
Thanks to the government policy However, it is estimated sector investments and budget and technical books forms the
to promote free flow of that nearly 50 per cent of all allocations. These growth trends There are nearly one million majority of these books, and
knowledge, there are no educational books are published are amongst the highest schools, 400 universities and are priced between $10 and
“regulatory” or “entry restrictions” in the English language. anywhere in the world and 16,000 colleges. However, since $30 depending on the size and
to enter the educational book hence, offer exceptional business most colleges enjoy the freedom production specifications.
publishing market. As a result, it With school and college opportunities for educational to determine the curriculum
is estimated that there is a thriving enrolments growing between five publishers. Incidentally, the within broad norms, the It is estimated that the
population of around 10,000 to eight per cent per annum, and size of Indian educational education publishing output is educational publishing industry
global and local educational an increasing propensity to buy publishing market is estimated highly customised with several in India employs over 10,000
publishers who bring out over textbooks, the industry is to be US$1.5 billion with regional/local titles for the same sales and distribution staff who
50,000 new titles every year. reporting growth in the range of school books constituting subject area. promote the textbooks at schools,

colleges, retail bookstores and
libraries.
Globally renowned educational
publishers like Oxford University
Press, Cambridge University
Press, McGraw-Hill Education,
Macmillan, Pearson Education,
Wiley, Elsevier and Springer,
to name a few, have had direct
presence in India spanning
several decades through
reprints and special priced
import editions. In recent years,
these global publishers have
invested heavily to build local
editorial capabilities to develop
world-standard titles through
local authorship from globally
renowned institutions like
Indian Institutes of Technology
(IIT). Some of these titles are
now finding markets in US, UK,
Latin America, China, Australia
and South-East Asia through
translations and reprints.
India has arguably one of the
finest copyright laws in the
world. Improving enforcement is
a key priority. Key concern areas
are photocopying and piracy of
best-selling textbooks and cases
of plagiarism from established
textbooks of international and
local publishers by small-scale
owner-managed publishers.
However, with concerted legal Publishers can assign rights to Given the complexity and from liaison office (branch), exclude India as a top priority
action and enforcement through Indian publishers and Frankfurt, diversity of India’s geography, joint venture or 100 per cent market. Given the high standards
collective industry action, there London and World Book Fairs language and education system, it subsidiary operation are perfectly of the Indian education system
is a general improvement in in New Delhi are excellent is relatively easy way to enter the within the rules and are typically especially in Engineering,
copyright protection for textbook venues to negotiate such rights. market through signing of sales the step foreign publishers take Computer Science, Indian
publishers. Given the prolific publishing and distribution arrangements after testing the market through educational content including
output of Indian education with reputed publishers and the previous two options. textbooks are rapidly gaining
As mentioned earlier, there are
publishers seeking reprint rights distributors who can promote the global acceptance.
no restrictions or entry barriers As one of the world’s largest, ◆
or translations of Indian original list within the assigned territory
to enter the Indian publishing fastest growing and ‘free-est’ The author is presently with McGraw-Hill
work is also gaining ground (usually the Indian subcontinent). Education India.
market, so several options exist to publishing markets, no publisher
‘export and import’ from India. rapidly. Again, various options ranging of global ambition can afford to

Publishing: Indian publishers are provided
facilities for training in
Forward to Greater Heights publishing through a number

of organizations. Firstly, the
Institute of Book Publishing has
D.N. MALHOTRA been doing training programmes
for publishers for a long time
With more than a whopping 80,000 new books published at a very high standard. Many
publishers, not only from India
every year, the publishing industry in India is one of the most but from a number of Asian
vibrant. Spanning a host of languages, the country’s book countries, also benefit.
publishers provide opportunities to little known, as well as, India’s literacy rate of 65 per cent
acknowledged and accomplished writers. throws up a vast number of
persons who are available to
I ndia is one of the seven top There was a time when Indian read books. Equally true are the
countries in the world in publishing was known to the tremendous opportunities for
terms of the number of books world only through English writers and publishers. It is no
published as per UNESCO’s books by known authors wonder then to find that many
statistics. Over 80,000 new books like R.K. Narayan, Bhabani international publishing houses
are published annually in India Bhattacharjee, Kam1a Markandey are keen to set up their units in
in 24 languages. While there is and Khwaja Ahmed Abbas. the country.
◆
no dearth of good writers, both Indeed, there was lack of The author is a pioneer of paperback
in the academic as well as the knowledge about the total Indian publishing in the country and the recipient
of the prestigious UNESCO’s International
technical field, there are authors publishing scenario, which Book Award, 1998.
in every language. witnesses publications from
❛❛
Publishing is never ending
and needs continuous
attention… The art of
publishing is dissemination
– bringing books to the
a wide variety of authors and That provides a pan-Indian readers. If the book is good
languages. picture of Indian authorship and (interesting content) and
publishing. the price reasonable, it will
Sahitya Akademi, that is the
Academy of Letters, encourages The National Book Trust, be a success. It will sell.
authors of all the languages established in 1954, organises
and awards them honours on a book fairs in New Delhi and all ❜❜
yearly basis. This was established over the country to propagate The late Tajeshwar Singh
at the initiative of India’s first the cult of reading books. Sage India
Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The National Book Trust also
Sahitya Akademi publishes books publishes in a number of
in 24 languages and has added languages and all good literature
four more from the tribal areas. at very reasonable prices.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Legacy
It is ironic that the man who said, “My writings should be
cremated with my body”, continues to be the most read,
analysed and written about historical personality.
his deeds. Could this truly be

possible? Could the power of
conviction bring about change
without violence, without the
bullet, without anger, animosity
or hatred?
Navajivan in Ahmedabad
and Publications Division in
Delhi are amongst the two
major publishers of Mahatma
Gandhi’s organised work.
Founded by Mahatma Gandhi,
Navajivan Trust was meant to
create public opinion. During
the Gandhi Centenary Year,
Navajivan published the Selected
Works of Mahatma Gandhi at
T here is a growing interest

in Mahatma Gandhi and
his writings. This may
or may not be a backlash
to the events of 9/11 or the
a subsidised price. The set was
reprinted in Gandhi’s 125th birth
anniversary year. To meet the
demand of regional languages,
Navajivan has embarked upon
hugely divisive culture that
it appears to have spawned
another ambitious project journals for highlighting matters
of national importance and
on Gandhiji by B.R. Nanda and
their recent work on Satyagraha
❛❛
to publish Selected Works of I read various newspapers
globally. Today, intolerance Mahatma Gandhi in regional India’s rich and diverse cultural by Savita Singh are of great
of other cultures or other heritage. It holds the exclusive importance. every day. I also read books
languages. It has already
ways of thinking appears to published these books in mandate for disseminating everyday. I put them both
National Book Trust, India
characterize human contact and Malayalam, Telegu and Bengali. information through the
(NBT), instituted by India’s
in my head and let them
relationships. The fear of the They may be contacted at production and sale of low fight it out.
first Prime Minister, Pandit
stranger, the unfamiliar. All this http://www.navajivantrust.org. priced, quality reading material
appears to have drawn people – on various aspects including the
Jawaharlal Nehru, has also
published a number of books
❜❜
common people – and more The Publications Division life of Mahatma Gandhi. Their Mahatma Gandhi
on Mahatma Gandhi in English,
importantly, young people – to (http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in) work includes 100 volumes of
Hindi and other regional
the words of ‘the naked fakir’, is one of the leading publishing Collected Works of Mahatma
languages.
the fragile man with an open houses of the country and Gandhi, eight volumes of
– Editor
smile, who brought an empire the largest in public sector. It Mahatma: his life and times by
to its knees with his words and is a repository of books and D.G. Tendulkar, pictorial albums

Writing for Children
PARO ANAND
No longer are books for children funny or mysterious. Today,

they deal with subjects as varied as terrorism and disability.
The face of children’s literature is changing rapidly.
“Why?” she asks in Mahashweta Devi’s book Why-Why Girl

(Tulika). “Why? Why? Why?”
The Why-Why girl is the essence of today’s child, asking
questions and demanding a hand in carving her destiny. This
quest and insistence for an independent identity forms the core of
contemporary Indian children’s literature.
While Devi’s protagonist demands to be educated, there are child
characters conceiving their present and future too. A case in point
is Sumati Sudharkar’s Paromita (Rupa) where a young girl in feudal
Bengal fights her family’s efforts to make her a child bride and
instead gains an education!
No, it is not all serious stuff, of Indian children’s literature is

either. Stories revolving around changing because our children,
adults, out to fulfill a child’s thanks to the social milieu, are
whimsy, also find place here. also changing.
In Young Uncle Comes to Town Content is not the only aspect to
by Vandana Singh (Young have improved in Indian books.
Zubaan), the adventurous There is a significant leapfrog
Young Uncle survives every in quality of illustrations, design
obstacle, including stealing a and production values as well.
hair from a tiger’s tail for a baby The audience is increasingly
who ‘wanted it’. Yes, the child demanding and publishers
in India today ‘demands’ and are focusing their attention
more important, ‘gets’. The face on a book’s visual appeal. A

The Indian book scenario is confront reality head on and difficult issues such as how
well equipped with pre-school the questions that it raises. we treat people with mental
book like The Princess Who compromising on quality or literature/concept books for Not moralistic, not guilt- illness, death, depression and
Never Smiled CLR (Common reasonable pricing. 3-5 year olds, picture books for inducing, just gently prodding alcoholism. But the one who
Language Runtime) has 6-7 years, light readers for 8-10 the reader to think, that’s all. brings about a change, or at
excellent illustrations in folk- Certainly, literature for the years and more serious/mixed Similarly, there are books least tries to, is a little girl who
art style. Other well-known young is growing older in the fare for older readers. dealing with failings and is the main protagonist.
publishers like NBT (National sense there is recognition of foibles of human beings rather
Book Trust), CBT (Children’s childhood over a longer period. One of my favourite stories is than perfection of gods and Such stories go a long way
Book Trust), Tulika and Tara ‘Childhood’ now extends to the ‘Fire’ from Deepa Agarwal’s evilness of demons. Anveshi’s in empowering the young
have experimented with ’tween – teen and young adults Not Just Girls (Rupa). I love title Chaakkupranthan by reader to follow his/her heart
equally varied styles without – and rightly so! it because of its ability to Jayasree Kalathil deals with and stand up for what she/

Moral and folk stories have long
been the backbone of Indian
children’s literature and to an
extent, continue to be so. While
most of these are retold, some
publishers have experimented
with fresher forms.
The future is indeed bright for
children’s literature in India,
and with publishers becoming
more experimental in terms
of content and illustrations;
children should have a lot of
reading to look forward to.
◆
The author has written a number of books
he knows is right, against all Behrampore, bringing to the an atomic city. Then there is Anthologies are being published for children.
odds. In Assamese, a book titled reader, through translation, a humour in the works of Satyajit by many publishers. Scholastic
Ekhon Circus Ashisil (A Circus culture we may otherwise never Ray and Sukumar Ray, and in (India) is bringing out a
Came) by Bandita Phukan, has learn about. Kuttichathan by V. Narasimhan successful series of themed
a group of children, buffeted (Tamil). There are also new collections on humour, fantasy,
by the strains of growing up, Many mystery stories also titles like Adbhut 14000 Thi science fiction as well as
visiting a circus. The beautiful abound in Bengali literature. Vadhu Banti Vartao by Chandra children’s own writings in For
Armani Champar Gaachi (The The sci-fi Paramaanu Lokadalli Trivedi or Dabbuji ka Khazana Kids by Kids. Rupa brings out
Armenian Champak Tree) by (In the world of atom) by (The Treasures of Dabbu) a series edited by celebrated
Mahashweta Devi weaves a Rajashekhara Bhusanurmatha by Abid Surti in Gujarati and author, Ruskin Bond and Katha
story around the life of a little is about a girl, her brother Anushka Ravishankar’s Moin has published the Rosalind
boy and his trusting, mother in and their dog venturing into and the Monster (Puffin). Wilson series.

The Indian Print Industry
India. There are more than 150,000 printing presses in active operation
all over the country with 1.3 million work force. There are eighteen
printing engineering colleges, several diploma schools and many print
VIREN CHHABRA training institutions.
F rom many accounts India’s print market is poised to grow at a The growth of the Indian printing industry is, however, limited to
faster rate than India’s GNP growth-rate! A recent study by Pira major metropolitan cities and the fruits of the latest technologies have
International: PRIMIR World Wide Market for Print also projects not percolated down to a large majority of India’s small and medium
India’s world market ranking from twelfth position in 2006 to eighth size printers in smaller towns yet.
by 2011.
It has recently been announced the Government of India plans to
The printing industry in India has assumed growing significance during create fourteen world class universities in India, which would be
the last decade and is one of the biggest and fastest growing sectors in multi-faculty including social sciences, humanities, engineering

production is completed more
rapidly.
Indian printing companies are
offering greater flexibility in the
processing of a large variety of
substrates, inks and methods of
printing finishing. There is a trend
for all print products to employ
multicolor as well as decorative
and special colors. In addition,
run lengths are getting shorter,
the greatest chance of growth
lies in the market for small, color
work with a fast turn-around
time. The use of computer to
film, computer to plate and
computer to press systems is
already widespread and is under
going continuous growth. The
Printing Industry is currently
experiencing many transitions in
the form of ‘Digital Printing’.
Digital technology, economic
restructuring global competition,
market changes, emerging new
media and other market forces
are combining to dramatically
transform the operating
environment of the printing
industry and to make it world
class. The quality of printing
particularly colour has improved
and matches offset quality and
an increasing number of printers
are installing digital production
machines and catering to print
on demand and other advantages
technology etc., in collaboration export of print materials grew offered by the latest state-of-the-
with international universities. from US$ 9.63 million in 1991-92 art digital press.
◆
This is likely to give an even to US$ 255.78 million in 2006-07. The author was President, All India
greater fillip to the Indian printing Federation of Master Printers.
Printing processes are being
industry.
increasingly controlled and
Increasing number of printers adjusted electronically, which
in India are concentrating on leads to consistent high quality
exports and are also winning and greater productivity. Digital
awards for excellence. Indian workflow also means that

the copyright either wholly or
Copyright Laws in India To strike an appropriate and
viable balance between the rights
of the copyright owners and the
partially. It shall be in writing
signed by the assignor or by his
interests of the society, there are duly authorised agent where the
As India races ahead towards globalization, creativity in all exceptions in the law. Many types assignee does not exercise the
forms of arts needs to be protected from multiple copyright of exploitation of work, which rights assigned to him within a
are for social purposes, such as period of one year from the date
violations. Though the copyright laws of the country education, religious ceremonies, of assignment, the assignment
are stringent, affected bodies need to resort to collective and so on, are exempted from the in respect of such rights shall
management of copyright. operation of the rights granted be deemed to have lapsed after
in the Act. Copyright Act confers the expiry of the said period
upon the owner of the work a unless otherwise specified in
C opyright is a legal right given to creators of literary works.

Copyright ensures safeguards of the rights of authors over
their creations, thereby protecting and rewarding creativity.
If, however, copyright protection is applied rigidly, it can hamper
progress of that society. Therefore, copyright laws are enacted
bundle of exclusive rights which
enables him to get financial
benefit by exercising rights in
reproduction, communication to
the assignment. If the period of
assignment is not stated, it shall
be deemed to be five years from
the date of assignment. If the
public, translation, publication, territorial extent of assignment of
with necessary exceptions and limitations to ensure that a balance assignment etc. If any of these the rights is not specified, it shall
is maintained between the interests of the creators and of the acts relating to the work, if be presumed to extend within the
community. carried out by a person other whole of India.
than the owner without a work, government shall be the The author of a work may
license from the owner or a first owner of the copyright. In relinquish all or any of the rights
competent authority under the the case of a work by public comprising the copyright in the
Act, it constitutes infringement of undertaking, such public work by giving notice in the
copyright in the work. undertaking shall be the first prescribed form to the Registrar
The Copyright Act, 1957 protects owner of the copyright. of Copyrights. The rights vary
original literary work from In the case of a literary work according to the class of work.
unauthorized uses. Unlike the made by the author in the All the rights of the original work
case with patents, copyright course of his employment by apply to a translation also. The
protects the expressions and the proprietor of a newspaper, right of reproduction commonly
not the ideas. There is no magazine or similar periodical means that no person shall
copyright in an idea. Copyright under a contract of service or make one or more copies of a
does not ordinarily protect apprenticeship, for the purpose work or of a substantial part of
titles by themselves or ideas or of publication in a newspaper, it in any material form without
concepts. To get the protection magazine or similar periodical, the permission of the copyright
of copyright, a work must the said proprietor shall, in the owner. The most common kind
be original. “Work of joint absence of any agreement to of reproduction is printing an
authorship” means a work the contrary, be the first owner edition of a work. A person
produced by the collaboration of the copyright, but in all other cannot translate a work enjoying
of two or more authors in which respects the author shall be the copyright without the permission
the contribution of one author first owner of the copyright in the of the copyright owner. Copyright
is not distinct from the other. work. comes into existence as soon as a
Copyright subsists throughout work is created and no formality
India in original literary works. The owner of the copyright in an is required to be completed
Ordinarily the author is the first existing work or the prospective for acquiring copyright. The
owner of copyright in a work. owner of the copyright in a future entries made in the Register of
In the case of a government work may assign to any person Copyrights serve as prima-facie

the work. The District Court
concerned has the jurisdiction
in civil suits regarding copyright
infringement. Where, in the
case of a literary work, a name
purporting to be that of the
author or the publisher appears
on copies of the work as
published, it be presumed, to be
the author or the publisher of the
work Where any person claiming
to be the owner of copyright
threatens other person with a
legal proceedings, the aggrieved
may institute a declaratory suit
that the alleged infringement was
an infringement.
evidence in the court of law. The regarding measures for improving in foreign countries, India obtain licences from more than Knowing infringement of
Copyright Office has been set up the enforcement of the Act. has become a member of the one society. copyright is a criminal offence.
to provide registration facilities to All the State governments and international conventions on Copyright infringement is a
The author of a work has the cognizable offence. A police
all types of works. Union Territories have set copyright and neighbouring
right to claim authorship of officer, not below the rank of
up Enforcement Cells for this (related) rights.
Both published and unpublished the work and to restrain or sub inspector, may seize without
purpose and they have also
works can be registered. claim damages in respect of warrant, all copies of the work.
appointed Nodal Officers to Collective administration of
Copyright in works published any distortion. Moral rights are The Court may order delivery
deal with enforcement issues. copyright is a concept where
before the Copyright Act, 1957 available to the authors even after to the owner of the copyright
There are no special courts for management and protection
came in force, can also be the economic rights are assigned. all such copies or plates. Every
copyright cases. The regular of copyright in works are
registered, provided the works The moral rights are independent person, who at the time the
courts try these cases. The undertaken by a society of
still enjoy copyright. When a of the author’s copyright and offence was committed, was in
Copyright Act provides for a owners of such works. Obviously
work has been registered as remains with him even after charge of the conduct of business
quasi-judicial body called the no owner of copyright in any
unpublished and is subsequently assignment of the copyright. of the company, as well as the
Copyright Board for adjudicating work can keep track of all
published, the applicant may Failure to display a work or to company shall be guilty of such
certain kinds of copyright cases. the uses others make of his
apply for changes in particulars display it to the satisfaction of the offence. No court, inferior to that
The Registrar of Copyrights has work. When one becomes a
entered in the Register of author shall not be deemed to of a Metropolitan Magistrate or
the powers of a civil court when member of a national copyright
Copyright in Form V with be an infringement of the moral a Judicial Magistrate of the first
trying a suit under the Code of society, that society because of
prescribed fee. Copyright is rights of the author. If a person class, shall try any offence under
Civil Procedure. its organisational facilities and
protected for a limited period of permits for profit any place to be the Copyright Act.
strength, is able to keep a better
time. The term of protection for used for the communication of a ◆
Copyright of nationals of vigil over the uses made of that Extracted from the Handbook of Copyright
copyright in literary, dramatic, work to the public, where such
countries who are members of work throughout the country and Law, Ministry of Human Resources
musical and artistic works is life communication constitutes an Development, Copyright Division,
the Berne Convention for the collect due royalties from the
and 60 years infringement of the copyright in Government of India.
Protection of Literary and Artistic users of those works. A copyright
the work he will be deemed to
The government has set up a Works, Universal Copyright society is a registered collective
have committed an offence under
Copyright Enforcement Advisory Convention and the TRIPS administration society. Such a
the Copyright Act.
Council (CEAC) to review Agreement are protected in society is formed by copyright
the progress of enforcement India through the International owners. There are registered A copyright owner can take
of Copyright Act periodically Copyright Order. To secure copyright societies in India. In legal action against any person
and to advise the government protection to Indian works many cases, it is necessary to who infringes the copyright in

New Delhi
World Book Fair
NUZHAT HASSAN
For over three decades, the New Delhi World Book Fair
has been bridging the gap between publishers and readers.
The largest book fair in the Afro-Asian region, it has
acquired the status of a ‘treasure trove’ for book lovers
all over the world.
T he New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), organised by the

National Book Trust, has emerged as the largest book fair in the
Afro-Asian region

The first NDWBF was held in
1972 at Windsor Place, in the
heart of Lutyen’s Delhi, and had
nearly 200 participants from India
and abroad. However, it was
in 1976 that NDWBF acquired
a full fledged professional look
as it moved to the sprawling
complex of Pragati Maidan, or the
Exhibition Grounds. From 1976,
NDWBF became a biennial affair.
In 2006, it had 1,293, participants
which has kept increasing every
year and has also begun to attract
foreign exhibitors.
While some of the major
international book fairs, are
generally speaking, rights-
oriented, NDWBF has emerged
as a platform for national and
international publishers and as an
opportunity for the general reader
and intellectuals alike to browse
through a canopic range of titles.
It has also become the interface
between all authors, publishers,
exhibitors, translators, editors,
literary agents from India and
abroad.
NDWBF introduced the Guest
of Honour concept in 2008
with Russia as the first Guest of
Honour country.
The 19th edition of NDWBF will
be held from January 30 to
February 7, 2010 at Pragati
Maidan, New Delhi.
◆
The author is Director, National Book Trust.
INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 64

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008

Editorial Indian Fiction

The Indian book publishing industry has seen rapid and

B ook publishing in Indian languages has assumed great

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 2 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 3

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 4 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 5

Indian fiction the product of a marriage between the

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 6 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 7

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 8 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 9

Publishers of academic titles – especially humanities and

Upamanyu Chatterjee’s English, Column) are only some of the

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 10 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 11

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 12 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 13

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 14 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 15

A Writer known names; it makes names

and His Workshop and then leaves them in the

W hat is the connection between rejection slips and Professor

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 16 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 17

What illustrated books, produced in India, lack by way of a

Foreword Ismail Merchant

As in acting, the Big B or In recent times, countless coffee

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 20 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 21

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 22 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 23

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 24 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 25

I t was just another day in

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 26 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 27

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 28 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 29

I n today’s stressful times people are looking for more natural

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 30 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 31

Indian publishing is fattening on the spoils of the kitchen.

I f there is at least one

INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 32 INDIA PERSPECTIVES SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 33

How far we in India have

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No international publisher can afford to ignore the

T he strides made by India

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Forward to Greater Heights publishing through a number

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his deeds. Could this truly be

T here is a growing interest

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No longer are books for children funny or mysterious. Today,

“Why?” she asks in Mahashweta Devi’s book Why-Why Girl

No, it is not all serious stuff, of Indian children’s literature is

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C opyright is a legal right given to creators of literary works.

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T he New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), organised by the

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