Shimla, May 12 (IANS) The books on Indian spiritualism are in great demand in foreign countries, and even the Chinese are quite impressed with their neighbouring people’s spiritual richness, National Book Trust (NBT) director M.A. Sikander said here Saturday.
‘The books on spiritualism have become the USP (unique selling proposition) of the Indian publishing houses. These books are selling like hot cakes in foreign countries,’ he said.
Sikander, who was in the town for the six-day NBT Book Fair that began Saturday, said that in the recent Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, the readers evinced keen interest in books on spirituality.
‘Even the Chinese are finding linkages between Indian lifestyle and spiritualism. They are keen to know what makes the Indians happy beings.’
He said the dominance of the Indian publishing houses in the global market has paved the way for inclusion of the NBT in the main board of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2012, slated for Oct 10-14. ‘Going by the popularity of Indian books, the Frankfurt fair authorities have included the NBT in the book fair board.’
Sikander said France has shown interest in translating Hindi books into French. ‘The NBT will have special focus on France in the next international book fair in Delhi (in 2013),’ he said.
On future of Indian publishing houses, Sikander said India is the third largest publisher of English books after Britain and the US.
‘With sufficient manpower having good command over English, the publishing houses across the world are outsourcing work to India,’ he said, adding that ‘our readers are also mature’.
‘The habit of reading has grown more in rural and semi-urban areas. There has been 20 percent growth in the sale of NBT publications in the country in the past few years.’
He attributed the increase in sale of books to online buying. ‘Most publishing houses are marketing through internet. The readers are placing more online orders, rather than visiting a bookstore.’
According to Sikander, the publishers are getting good response at book fairs in Bihar, West Bengal and Kerala, besides in the north-east states.
Over 50 publishers are participating in the book fair that was inaugurated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here.
