Elaborate discussions on publishing at Jaipur BookMark

The publication industry all over the world is in a fix about how to deal with the avalanche of content coming from various mediums -- self publishing, e-books and blogs. With no defined way to filter the process of selection, it indeed is a daunting task.

Debates and discussions on issues like these and others are the highlight of the Jaipur BookMark - a parallel initiative of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) that began here Jan 18.

The three-day event, which concludes Monday, is an initiative to develop and promote the Indian publication industry. It is taking place at the Narain Niwas Palace.

A session "Creativity and the Avalanche of Content" here Sunday deliberated over the current avalanche of content coming through blogging and self-publication. How this rise of an alternative medium will pose a threat to the publication industry and how creativity might be compromised in the sea of information engaged the participants.

As opposed to many beliefs that the publication industry is on the decline, Fiona McCrae, a US publisher pointed out how many independent book stores are coming up in the US.

"I don't think the publication industry will ever die. The physical and virtual mediums can co-exist peacefully. We have started seeing this trend in the US where many youngsters have opened independent book stores," she told the select audience.

The BookMark event is not free like the JLF, and delegates have to pay a registration fee. Hence, the interaction here is more on a personal level as compared to that of the literature festival, where a maddening melee makes a session a confusing jamboree.

Another interesting point was raised by K. Sreenivasa Rao, secretary, Sahitya Akademi. Rao mentioned how Indian publishing industry is still struggling with "price politics".

"Pricing policy has to be there in publication. There is so much of disparity. If we (Sahitya Akademi) are selling a 200 page novel for Rs.150, international publishers are selling a novel of 200 pages at thrice this price," he said.

"I believe certain kind of policies have to be made for setting up prices. There are many constraints that come in this policy like quality of paper, images, illustrations or pictures. But, if there is a standard to be followed, it will benefit all," he added.

However, when asked why Sahitya Akademi was reluctant to adapt modern technology to make its "excellent" regional literature available to a wider audience, Rao said: "Ours is a government body and we have to follow certain policies."

Coming back to the e-books debate, McCrae said people still love to read books because there is something about physical presence.

Indian photographic artist Dayanita Singh made a valid statement by saying one can look at the possibilities of having an e-book editor in future.

"There is always another side of a story and in this case we can say that there will be a time when we will have e-book editors and the avalanche of content can be channelised in a better way," she said.