Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 06 2009:
The Northeast States are lagging behind in the trade of book publication in comparison to other States due to small population and lack of infrastrcuture, said Governor Gurbachan Jagat.
He was addressing in the inaugural function of the seminar, 'Challenges of publishing in the Northeast, jointly organised by Federation of Indian Publishers, New Delhi and Writers' Forum, Imphal at State Guest House today.
The Governor said that as for Manipur, the situation is not good as professional publishers are not coming forward in this direction.
The most important factor is due to small market, he added.
He however lauded the Writers' Forum, Imphal for standing steadfast in order to develop book publishing in Manipur.
Maintaining that Manipur is a beautiful State and it has its own unique cultural heritage that contributes to the enrichment of the glorious age-old cultural mosiac of the country, Gurbachan Jagat said that such attributes inspire the writers and poets of the State.
The Governor further said that around 70,000 new books are published in India every year.
This figure, though impressive, is rather small in view of per capita terms.
Therefore, India has to raise the number of the actual production and sale of books, he added.