G. Olivannan, Treasurer, Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India, based in Chennai, writes:
An article headlined ‘ >The missing books from the south ,’ (Open Page, March 9, 2014) stated that only an insignificant number of publishers from Tamil Nadu participated in the World Book Fair in New Delhi. This is not true.
This year, more Tamil publishers participated than in earlier years. Nine of them participated in their individual capacity. In addition, the Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India displayed titles from nearly 30 Tamil publishers, their best, at its pavilion.
The organisers of the Fair, the National Book Trust, appreciated the initiative and participation by BAPASI. By any standard, the representation from the Tamil publishing industry was high.
Nearly 90 per cent of the exhibitors at the World Book Fair are from in and around Delhi. The Fair directory will reveal the participation of publishers from different languages.
Such exhibitions mainly cater to publishers who are looking to expand business opportunities, and those looking to sell books to visitors. The World Book Fair is predominantly for English books. Publishers, distributors and literary agents from outside of India seek to sell rights to their works in India.
Rights for translation Tamil publishers too expect to sell rights for translation into other languages. This will of course involve the material being translated first into English. Tamil publishers generally do not expect bright sales as the Tamil-speaking population outside Tamil Nadu does not solely depend and wait for book fairs to buy books. They get them online or through friends in Tamil Nadu.
