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| Jaswant likely to visit Pak for launch of his book |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi Aug 25, 2009, 14:34 IST |
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Jaswant Singh, expelled from BJP for his controversial book on Jinnah, is likely to visit Pakistan for the launch of the book after Ramzan.
Having planned out a series of launches across various metros in the country besides abroad including Pakistan, the book publisher said the launch in the neighbouring country is most likely to be held after Ramzan.
"The promotional event will start in a few days. We are in talks with our counterparts in Pakistan to fix up a date for the launch. It is most likely to be held after Ramzan," the publishers said.
Asked if Singh would be part of the launch, they said, "He is the author. What would be a book launch without him?"
Rupa and Co, the publisher of the book, 'Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence' has planned out a series of promotional activity across the country, including launches at Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad among others.
The publisher has been maintaining that the book was doing very brisk business in the country.
R K Mehra, Chairman of the publishing firm, had earlier said, "It is selling everywhere, it is selling very well in Pakistan and we have received orders from London, Bangladesh and Abu Dhabi. The subject of partition has been a subject of great interest anywhere in world."
Contending that the book was selling extremely well across the country, he said, "We can't give you the exact number as it is a business secret, but the book shops are running out of stock."
In Karachi, Singh will be hosted by Liberty Books, one of Pakistan's largest book retailers. He is expected to have speaking engagements and sign copies of his book there too.
Officials of the Indian High Commission here said they were not aware of Singh's visit or whether he would be extended official protocol during his stay in Pakistan.
An employee of Liberty Books said the 1,000 copies of Singh's book imported by the company via Dubai had already sold out. "Even people who are not avid readers have been making inquiries about the book and we received many queries about it through our website," he said.
While Liberty Books has been selling Singh's book for Pakistani Rs 1,395, there are reports that other stores are selling it for as much as Rs 2,000 or more, largely due to the costs involved in imports through Dubai.
The book became available in major cities Pakistan shortly after its release in India, with leading book-sellers bringing it in directly from India or via Dubai as there was tremendous interest in it.
In the Foreign Office, officials reportedly made photocopies of one copy that was sent by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
While Singh has been reviled by the BJP and others in India for his take on Jinnah, he has earned plaudits from the Pakistani media, especially as he belonged to a party that is perceived as being extremely right wing on this side of the border.
While praising Singh's courage, the influential Dawn newspaper said in an editorial a few days ago: "Here in Pakistan, the more important question is: can we imagine a similar statement about India's independence leaders? Singh has been treated shabbily, but the whole affair demonstrates that India, or parts thereof, is at least trying to come to terms with the ghosts of partition and assess it in a frank, honest manner. Can anyone in Pakistani politics claim such boldness?"
Newspaper editorials and columnists have also argued that Singh's reappraisal of Jinnah's role in the partition could help India and Pakistan get over contentious historical issues, thus leading to improved relations in future.
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