April was a busy month, and I fool you not! I’ve been hopping around places doing something I love the most- attending book fairs, meeting my fellow publishers, the audience we direct our efforts to cater to, and building connections that we hope, last for decades. My journey began with the London Book Fair 2018,…
As individual publishers, we have many ethical, social, economical and cultural responsibilities to fulfill. At times, however, it takes more than an individual to take a stand. When an individual’s efforts aren’t enough, there comes about the need for a more collective effort. Apex bodies like International Publishers Association, Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP), Afro…
I have always been a fan of sports, especially cricket. While sportsmen feel the adrenaline rush of performing within an arena, we as spectators and fans couldn’t relate to the thrill any less. From gully cricket to Olympics, sportsmanship can be witnessed from a very basic, to larger than life level among one and all.…
Technology has been disrupting every sector, and when it comes to publishing, it is no different! There has been a significant shift in the entire publishing landscape with the introduction of new technology. With change comes challenges, but to adapt and evolve into something better or become obsolete is a choice that remains. If you…
India has a rich literary heritage. Some of the most distinguished authors include Rabindranath Tagore, Amir Khusro, Abul Fazl, Ziauddin Barani, and A.K. Ramanujan amongst several others. Literary works in Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu apart from just English language have paved way for carving out a niche for themselves. Around 20th century with the…
New year. New opportunities. New experiences! Indeed, 2018 kicked off on a high note for me…. with a trip to Chennai for the 30th CBSE Principals’ Conference – a yearly event covering 165 schools of the Gulf region. The Kuwait Chapter hosted the event this time. Themed on ‘Education for Sustainable Development and Peace’, the…
Much like the first day that was packed with amazing events and activities for all, Day 2 of the International Publishers Congress too witnessed a lot of fun and excitement. Social Responsibility of Publishers The first session was chaired by Hugo Setzer with panelists Dipendra Manocha, Henrique Mota, Baldeo Bhai Sharma and Dr. Sadhana Rout.…
My previous blog Bringing Publishing Experts Under One Roof summed up the entire event with all the major highlights. However, this event had much more to its credit, and which is why I would like to share it all with you. Let’s begin with Day 1 of the 32nd IPA Congress. India is synonymous with…
After a year full of extensive planning with emphasis on the minutest of details, the 32nd International Publishers Congress finally took off on a high note! It’s overwhelming to see a plethora of publishers and stakeholders from around the world gathered at one platform to exchange ideas, concerns and remedies. With nearly 300 delegates participating,…
The Indian publishing industry witnessed one of the major international events this February. Hosted by the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP), the 32nd IPA International Publishers Congress came back with a bang. It was an amazing experience being a part of this phenomenal 3-day event as an organising member. Beginning on a high note, the…
If you are a reader, author, book lover or publisher, this piece of information is just for you. Indian book market is growing at an impressive rate. According to a survey conducted by the National Book Trust of India 2010, one-fourth of the young population with an astonishing figure of 83 million is identified as…
Getting books published is a well-known struggle for authors. But what comes next is the threat of piracy. Being in the publishing industry, we receive many manuscripts as part and parcel of the publishing house life. Earlier, manuscripts used to be handwritten, so proving ownership was easier. With the advent of digitisation, manuscripts are compiled…
A unique blend of innovation and experience, the International Publishers Association presents the 32nd International Publishers Congress. With only two days to go, I’m really excited about the IPA Congress that will take place in Taj Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi. FIP is hosting the IPA Congress in India this year. Having staged it first in…
New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) has always been an important event not only for bibliophiles but also publishers & authors. The much awaited 8-day extravaganza began on January 6, 2018. Much to the book lovers’ delight, an overwhelming participation from over 20 EU countries with delegation of publishers, editors and authors was seen this…
India is turning into the new publishing heaven for authors not only in India, but beyond borders as well. The literacy rate is increasing, and so has the readership. As per the ABC Report 2016, the circulation of India’s print publications grew at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.87% in the past decade.…
From growing up listening to bedtime stories from parents to narrating the same as a parent myself, the only thing constant is – storytelling. Talk about childhood memories of stories, and we can’t keep away the excitement that the colourful comics always brought into our lives. Comics are graphic representations of stories, and can be…
Moving ahead from where I left the topic in my last blog about CAPEXIL: Aiding Indian Publishing Industry, and how Prints Publication Pvt. Ltd. and I have always been closely related to CAPEXIL. CAPEXIL is an apex body set up by the Ministry of Commerce to promote Indian Exports as per the Article of Association…
Exports of printed books, newspapers, pictures in India decreased to 41.24 USD million in 2016 from 142.12 USD million in 2015. In order to facilitate the export of chemical-based and allied products, the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, had set up CAPEXIL, an Export Promotion Council, in 1958. CAPEXIL is an ISO 9001:2008 certified…
Books, music, movies – 3 most common interests people indulge in. And interestingly, these forms of art find a way to stay connected more often than not. Movies adapted from books. Music inspired from poems. Music in movies. If you love music as much as I do, these 7 books are a must read for…
I am not an avid reader myself, and given my busy schedule I hardly find time to read. But I see my little kid having quite a taste for books. Can’t really argue if it’s the content, the graphics and colours or all of them. As far I can recollect apart from the school libraries…
The Goods & Service Tax (GST) that came in with different tax slabs, opened doors to a lot of confusion across industries. In my earlier blog on the Impact of GST on Prints Publications, I mentioned how we faced the disadvantage of no input tax credit for taxes, as books, journals & periodicals fall under…
Ever wondered what literary prizes do that just good reviews can’t? They push you towards giving your best, proving your worth to all over and over, AND finding your way to always remain on top, or in the race at least. Having said that, whether or not such prizes are relevant, and how much if…
The 36th edition of the world’s 4th largest book fair, Sharjah International Book Fair begins on 1st November, and like every year, I’m excited to represent my company, Al Khamri, at the fair. It’s a 10-day event that started in 1982 under the guidance and patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi,…
My last blog is a testimony to the love I have for Frankfurt Book Fair. Like every year, I was glad to be a part of it this time around too, and all the more delighted to share my experience here. I attended the prestigious fair for the first time back in 2006, and it…
Marketing – a term that rules every industry. It’s the backbone of every product, service, event, content piece and a lot more. You just can’t do without it. While there are many marketing professionals/agencies in the market with vast marketing strategies and presentations, only a few can truly understand the intricacies of this business. We,…
Technology. The one word that drives me crazy. There’s always something new to explore. Something that excites and amazes one. And mobile applications continue to be on top of the exploration list. Here’s why I thought of getting away from business related topics for this blog and write on my favourite apps of the year…
Recently, there have been a lot of discussions regarding the rates implied by the Goods Offices Committee (GOC) on invoices and bills. We have compared these with the daily conversion rates imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and here’s what I think about it. To begin with, let’s first understand the roles of…
GST (Goods and Services Tax), as we know, has changed the way many businesses operate. A lot has been said, debated upon and written on its pros & cons, and how it will affect the future of various industries. The application of GST has indirectly, if not directly, affected Prints Publications Pvt. Ltd. Books, periodicals…
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the schooling system in India? For me, it’s the NCERT books and the CBSE, for sure. I’ve talked about NCERT books in a blog sometime back. Today, I’ll be sharing my views on the CBSE and how things are changing in India’s…
“Digital publishing vs print publishing – what’s your take, Pranav?” This is a question someone asked me at a get-together recently. After an hour long debate, I thought I must pen down and share my thoughts about the same. So here I am… I have been associated with the print publishing business for decades now,…
Exhibitions are a great opportunity to connect and network with the industry you are a part of. It’s also a good way of keeping yourself updated about the new trends and players in the industry. Being a part of the ever evolving publishing business, here’s the lowdown on events I plan to attend in the…
Evolving, promising and challenging – while these are the three definite words that describe the publishing industry, new trends and policies keep coming into picture almost every year. It’s the UGER Model this time around, introduced by the Ministry of Oman. Wondering what it is and how it is going to impact the industry, right?…
Held for the last 45 years, the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) is now a major calendar event in the publishing world. With each passing year and growing number of participants, the NDWBF has grown tremendously. This time around, the 25th edition of NDWBF will be held from 6th to 14th January, 2018 at…
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had recently directed all the CBSE-affiliated schools to follow Circular No: Acad-07/2017 which was an attempt to make NCERT books available for the academic session of 2017-18. The letter stated that the textbooks will be supplied and printed by NCERT for all classes. Besides this, the letter also…
A reader’s journey doesn’t end with the book, but is an adventure that goes on towards oblivious paths in search of new horizons. The ultimate ‘stop’ during this journey where the knowledge seekers attain some rest is either at a bookstore or in the heart of different book fairs! Book fairs have been organized in…
Awaited by some, but not by many! The GST tax, which kicked off on July 1st 2017, has definitely caused ripples across the nation, some of which are positive, and others debatable. While some people would breathe a sigh of relief with the GST tax roll out, there are some who would be left in…
Today, while reading ‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhati Roy, I realized that India is a storehouse of talent with amazing authors refining the literary world effectively by contributing their part. Great works by Indian literary geniuses have helped them leave their mark on the international literary scene too. Many Indian authors have been…
2016 saw a boom in the tourism industry. With travel slowly becoming a lifestyle statement, more and more Indians are becoming evolved travellers. From backpacking to luxury travel, travelling has been the top holiday plan for both individuals and families. And why not! India currently ranks 18th in the global travel budget rankings. Keeping up…
2016 was an eventful year for the publishing industry. Self-published writers saw a growth, while the influence from Chinese Publishers resulted in increased acquisitions and partnerships. There were a few sad demises of traditional book shops but the the new players kept the excitement going for market watchers. The publishing industry is definitely excited for…
Journals are not only a key source to meet all your knowledge needs, but also help you find answers to questions in countless ways. Journals have become one of the fastest and most effective means of disseminating research findings. Each article published in a journal allows you to extensively explore a specific topic, which in…
Extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary actions. If the situation has somehow meandered out of control, there is an urgent need for remedial measures to bring it back under control. Per many, demonetisation was one such step that had long been overdue. Corruption, black money and undisclosed incomes stashed in foreign accounts had taken a big…
‘Digital Age’, ‘Digital is the future’, ‘Digital India’…. A lot of digital here and there, and why not, technology is amazing! Things technology can do is just worth all that admiration and acceptance. But it can never replace a good parent or a good teacher. Being in a close relationship with the printed world let…
After two eventful and successful days of the 32nd International Publishers Congress, the final day witnessed sessions on some of the most important topics of the Indian and global publishing industry. Let’s go through the major highlights along with the key takeaways from Day 3. Book Markets in India This session was chaired by Mr.…
