1455. In the early stage a few religious books like the Bible were published. During the middle of the sixteenth century the Christian missionaries introduced printing technology in India. The printing machine was established in Dhaka in 1848, although a printing machine was installed in Rangpur in 1847 for the publication of a newspaper. After a lot of efforts printing and publication sectors thrived in Dhaka.Problems and prospects of publishing business in Bangladesh
Beginning at
Chawkbazar and Islampur in Dhaka finally the printing and publishing
business flourished at Banglabazar on
the bank of the
river Buriganga
Saidur Rahman
Love for books is universal. Printing technology is an integral part of modern civilization. Printing technology entered into a revolutionary phase with the invention of the first printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany in 1455. In the early stage a few religious books like the Bible were published. During the middle of the sixteenth century the Christian missionaries introduced printing technology in India. The printing machine was established in Dhaka in 1848, although a printing machine was installed in Rangpur in 1847 for the publication of a newspaper. After a lot of efforts printing and publication sectors thrived in Dhaka.
A century elapsed. Beginning at Chawkbazar and Islampur in Dhaka finally the printing and publishing business flourished at Banglabazar on the bank of the river Buriganga. There was an organization called East Pakistan Publishers Association. Kazi Bashir Uddin, Sharfuddin and Obaidullah led it. The organization suffered some setbacks after the emergence of Bangladesh. Finally in 1981 an organization styled Bangladesh Pustok Prokashok O Bikreta Samity (Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association) was formed. After the registration of the organization Jahangir Mohammad Adel was its president, SM Habibullah of Globe Library and Mohiuddin Ahmed of UPL became vice-presidents, general secretary was Serajul Adil, and Chittaranjan Saha of Muktadhara was joint secretary. A total of 38 publishers got involved in the organisation.
The organization started activities related to promotion of books throughout the country. There are eight thousand members in the organization. In 1997 another organization styled Bangladesh Gyan O Srijonshil Prokashok Samity (Bangladesh Knowledge and Creative Publishers Association) emerged with Mofidul Haque of Sahitya Prokash, Chittaranjan Saha of Muktadhara, Hamidul Islam of Beauty Book House, Mazibur Rahman Khoka of Bidyaprokash, Ahmed Mahmudul Haque of Mawla Brothers in the leadership.
The publishing business in Bangladesh is now in grip of financial and technological problems. Dearth of capital has gripped many a publisher. The capital invested in publishing books some times takes a long time for return. Unlike textbooks and notebooks, books on literature do not sell so easily. Sometimes worms eat up the piled up books in the warehouses. It is a liability rather than assets. It is difficult to keep the wheel of business running for the publishers. There are also instances of persons quitting publishing business due to suffering recurrent losses. In fact, many publishers of the country are going ahead confronting numerous problems.
About 6000 books come out in the country every year on an average. Seventy-five per cent of the books are published on the occasion of the month-long Amar Ekushey Boimela in the month of February. But books having literary merits are few. There is a crisis of standard manuscripts. There is lack of editors for revising and editing manuscripts before publication of books. There are problems related to production, printing, quality papers, ink, attractive cover designs and binding. What really matters is the content of a book but good production is also a factor. What first attracts the attention of the reader is the nice production of a book. Be it a collection of poems, a novel, a drama, a book of short stories or a collection of essays. What is really worrying for a publisher is the lack of sufficient readers.
A genuine and prudent publisher can create writers of repute. There was a time when writers and cultural activists were involved in the publishing business. They had a social commitment. They had also business acumen. They include Mohammad Nasir Ali, Kader Khan, Atiqul Mawla, Mohiuddin Ahmed and Hamidul Islam. There were some book shops that would draw readers in increasing numbers. Those were Chalontika Boighor, Provincial Book Depot, Kalikolom, Prokash Bhabon, Standard Publications, Shining Book, Paradise Library, Kohinoor Library, Adil Brothers and Osmania Book Depot etc.
Publishers alleged that the government provides loan up to Tk 60 lakh at only 3 per cent interest for making quality films in the country but there is no such loan facility for the publishers for producing quality books. Yet the publishing business is going on in the country. The publishers should be given incentives for encouraging them to publish quality books.
Jatiya Grantha Kendra (National Book Centre) was established in 1962 with a view to promoting books. The aims and objectives of the organization are to develop publication and marketing of books, creation of interest for reading books among the people, awarding prizes for publishing quality books. It is also meant for arranging seminars and symposiums, workshops and book fairs for promoting books. But it is unfortunate that the organization could not play its due role during the past few decades. Had it played due role the scenario of the book publication arena would have been much brighter. It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities, particularly the Cultural Ministry, to gear up the activities of the National Book Centre.
There is no denying the fact that despite limitations a few publishers of our country have presented the readers some quality books in the past few years. Many have become successful from commercial point of view. It is heartening to note that Dhaka University has opened a new department called Printing and Publication Studies recently. This is expected to contribute to quality publication in the country.
It is a fact that we are lagging behind our neighbouring country India so far the quality book publication is concerned. This problem should be addressed. The printing technology, variations in using improved type fonts in books should be considered. The matter of aesthetics in publication of books should be kept in mind. During the past five years, on an average 4000 books are being published in the book fair. It is an encouraging sign. According to the Bangla Academy, one fourth of the published books can be considered to be standard. Scores of Indian books are coming to our country but the number of books produced in our country going to India is very negligible. It is unfortunate. It is encouraging to note that two of our publishers have set up their own sales centres in Kolkata. A few other publishers are trying to do the same.
The literature of our country should be projected globally through extensive translation into English. This branch of our literature is weak. This should be strengthened. Reading society should be formed in every area. There are many libraries in the country. Many libraries do not have sufficient books for readers. Those should be rejuvenated. In a country of 16 crore population the number of readers is frustrating. Promotion of publishing business will be futile if readership is not created on a massive scale. If reading habit can be developed among the people, particularly among the youth, crimes and drug addiction may show a downward trend. It will also contribute to formation of an enlightened section of people in the country.
In recent times book fairs are being organized in different places in the country. Seminars and discussions on books are also being organized. These are good signs. This kind of activity should be strengthened. The publishers are also conscious for publishing quality books. Book production is a team work. It has to pass through a number of phases--composing, proof-reading, printing, cover-designing, binding and finally marketing. It is a rigorous process. The prospects and problems of book publishing business need threadbare discussions in the interest of this vital industry. The government should identify it as a priority sector and should take necessary measures. Financial incentive is what really matters. Private sector should also come forward in this regard.
There should be cordial relationship among writers, publishers and readers for the flourishment of the book industry. It is the usual practice that after writing a book a writer will go to a publisher for publishing it. After adjudging the merit of the manuscript the publisher will publish it and give the writer the royalty. Then the publisher will publish the book according to its demand. The books of established writers sell well. Every year many new writers are emerging in the country. For a new writer it is not so easy to publish book unless he/she spends money. The new writers go to publishers for publication of their books. In this case publishers realize the entire cost of publication from the writers. In this case quality hardly matters. Even this kind of book is not sent to the editors or reviewers for comments or proper editing. Such writers also spend money for advertising the books in newspapers for drawing the attention of the readers.
The budding poets, novelists and short story writers feel gratified thinking that they have managed to reach the readers through their works. They hardly care about the money spent for this purpose. The publishers are also happy as they get money. Good future writers may emerge from the budding writers. Many fail to survive the test of time. For celebrated or popular writers publication of books is no problem. Even many of them get advance money from publishers for writing books, particularly novels. Humayun Ahmed was such a writer. Since Ahmed had (and still has) thousands of fans his books sell well. His books run edition after edition. Books of Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, Imdadul Haque Milon, Anisul Haque and Harishankar Jaldas also sell well. But other writers are not that much lucky. In the past when publishing business was at an embryonic stage many celebrated writers had to publish their first book spending their own money. Celebrated poet of the forties Ahsan Habib had to spend his own money for publication of his first book of poems. Poet Al Mahmuds first book of poems Lok Lokantor was published with the initiative of some of his well-wishers led by Poet Asad Chowdhury. There are writers who have very little knowledge about literature. They try to write books to gain some prestige in the society. Usually they are highly paid job holders, expatriates and businessmen. Their books fail to attract readers. Publishers hardly show interest to publish such weak manuscripts. These novice writers publish their books by spending their own money. The publishers take advantage of the situation and get benefits out of such projects. Virtually many publishers survive in this manner. A craze has been created for publishing books recently. Many are joining this craze. There are instances of a writer writing 20 books on the occasion of the book fair. Advertisements in newspapers show it. How many books can a writer write a year? Are these stuffs readable at all? The demand and supply theory does not apply to creativity. It does not augur well so far literature is concerned. If the demand is acute spurious stuff is sold. This kind of substandard stuff is sold centring around the book fair. It is the responsibility of the relevant authority to be vigilant in this regard.
Publication of low quality books takes its toll on the creativity of a writer. There are reasons for expressing concern at the publication of increasing number of books that lack literary merit. The propensity for publishing so many books for a writer is impediment to mature writing. There is no relation between serious literature and inflated number of publications. Number hardly matters, what matters is merit. Many famous writers of Bangla Literature were not prolific. Yet their positions in the domain of literature are intact.
The problem is that there is no literary magazine in our country where discussions or reviews on the published books can be projected in the interest of the book lovers. This is a major setback that warrants remedy. The weekly literature or feature pages of the daily newspapers are not adequate for the projection of scores of books being published in the country. How will the readers know about quality books? There is fortnightly in Kolkata called Desh and the monthly Boier Desh. They are promoting the publication industry in the West Bengal. The government, particularly the Cultural Ministry, can give a serious thought in this regard.
It is the responsibility of the publishers to create a firm base so that a cordial relationship can grow between the writers and the readers. They should arrange for meeting between the writers and the readers. They should launch campaigns in favour of the just published books. The budding writers hardly get any cooperation in our country. They should get due patronage in publishing their books. There are some literary awards in our country. Naturally, an award-winning book sells well. But award is not always the yardstick for judging the merit of a book. Sometimes the interest of the award givers works. Or it may serve some specific interest. Neutral judgment is sometimes missing. As the award-giving organisations are mostly privately owned, their likes and dislikes matter.
Chittaranjan Saha, owner of Muktadhara, has contributed immensely for the promotion of publishing business in the country. In fact, he championed the cause of publishing business. He created many writers. He published scores of books on poetry, novel, short stories, essays and on the liberation war. He also played a pioneering role in holding book fair in the country. The other publishers that contributed to the book industry include Mawla Brothers, Khan Brothers Private Limited, UPL, Agami Prokashony, Jagriti Prokashony, Afsar Brothers, Oitijjhya, Suborna, Somoy Prokashon, Sahitya Prokash, Anonnya, Annya Prokash, Adorn Publication, Biddya Prokash, Dibdya Prokash, Panjeree, Rodela Prokashony, Prothoma, Pathak Samabesh, Kakoli Prokashony, Gatidhara, Bibhas, Nabojug Prokashony, Bengal Publishers, Obosor, Bishwa Sahitya Bhaban, Ahmed Publishing House, Nawroj Sahittya Sangsad, Nawroj Kitabisthan, etc.
Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and Bangladesh Asiatic Society published hundreds of books during the past few years. Besides, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh has published many books on religious affairs. Bishwa Sahitya Kendra published many books on the world literature, particularly Bangla translation of world classics. Credit goes to Professor Abdullah Abu Sayed, founder of the organization, for his yeomans service. He has created hundreds of readers in the country. This year Bangla Academy has published some books on poetry, short stories and autobiographies. The organisation has also reprinted some old books. This is heartening. However, the organisation should take initiative to bring out some magazines publication of which has become irregular for the past few years. These are Dhan Shaliker Desh, Bangla Academy Gobeshona Patrika and the Bangla Academy Journal. Only the Uttaradhikar, the monthly literary journal of the academy, is appearing on a regular basis. This year books worth Tk 80 crore have been sold in the month-long book fair. Last year it was Tk 70 crore. It is an encouraging sign. It is expected that in the next year the amount will be higher.
The writer is Assistant Editor of
The Independent
