Thousands of students who joined Calicut University’s undergraduate programmes in colleges this year are yet to lay their hands on English textbooks. Two English textbooks prescribed for the first semester have not reached the students even weeks after their classes began.
The failure of the university in printing the required number of textbooks in time was the alleged reason for the non-availability of the books. The university authorities admitted the delay, but assured the students that the books would be made available within a few days.
Sources on the university campus pointed out that some private publishers who used to enjoy huge profits until last year were trying to scuttle the university’s attempts to publish the books.
Vice Chancellor K. Mohammed Basheer told The Hindu that the university had secured a good profit by taking up the responsibility of printing the English textbooks for undergraduate programmes last year.
“This year we expect a profit of minimum ₹30 lakh from publishing books for students,” said Dr. Basheer.
He said 58,000 copies of the first semester textbooks, ‘Ways With Words’ and ‘Transactions,’ had been printed and were in different phases of distribution. As many as 12,000 copies were in the binding stage. “We are working at it on a war-footing. Our press staff are working overtime. We hope to make the books available to all students within a week,” said Dr. Basheer.
University Publication Officer Om Prakash said that many colleges had taken delivery of the books needed for their students. Every student would get the books in a few days, he said.
Abida Farooqui, chairperson of the Undergraduate Board of Studies in English, said that the university had proven that it could take up publishing more textbooks needed for its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Goldmine
The publication of textbooks prescribed for different courses involves business worth crores of rupees.
Being the largest in the State, Calicut University is considered a goldmine by private publishers in the country.
