Thinking Aloud-2: Publishing in Maithili Needs Multipronged Approach

 

Publishing in Maithili Needs Multipronged Approach

Oftentimes I buy English books after reading reviews in The Hindu. Reviews help me chose book/s of my taste, books that satisfy my needs intellectual, or serve a good time-pass during travel. Maithili has no newspapers. Journals and magazine publish reviews irregularly, sometimes from readers, and sometimes reputed authors. Yet,conflict of interest makes it difficult to shift grain from the chaff. Travelers at railways stations buy books and magazines more out of instinct. They rarely read reviews. However classics, works of reputed writers and publications sell more. Maithili draws a blank there too. No reputed publishers. No writers to write abundantly on genres that satisfy popular taste. Even in popular genres we haven’t have Premchand, Chatursen, or Renu. No Bachchan or Dinakara either. We have not produced one books of the kind of Aranyak or Srikant. Why? Is it all because finance or market? No. We have’nt created literature of popular taste that commercially stands on its own feet. We have plenty of writers who publish out of their own pocket. Yet when it comes to quality and taste, they are not ready to face the truth. Yes, we have publications. But none to publish quality literature and is commercially successful. They all thrive on out pocket finance by the authors. I think situation is not beyond control. It only needs plan and sustained efforts. I have a few suggestions that may serve Maithili in long-term. Efforts to include Maithili in curriculum in schools have to go hand-in-hand.   

Here are my suggestions:

1.    Survey popular taste

2.    Hunt for quality writing; inspire talents to write on topics of their interests. Dr. Yogendra Pathak Viyogi is an excellent example of quality writing in popular science. Identify writers with expertise in their fields.

3.    Expand the genre of writing. Illustrated literature for children has huge market. 

     Organising events in schools and mohallas for authors to read their works for children and interested adults shall popularise good literature and inculcate reading habit.

4.    Offer editorial help. Even good writers benefit from editing.

5.   Subject works to honest pre-publication double-blinded peer reviews.

6.   Offer the authors/ publishers consultancy, and guide them to tap in potential government/ non-government sources of finance

7.   Seek established publishers from other languages. Profit draws investors like honey draws ants. Also seek out authors ready to finance his publication.

8.    Expand marketing to rural areas; motivated unemployed youth may be roped in on the basis of fair share of profit. Nothing comes for free, mother tongue included.

9.   Make writing in Maithili remunerative; get the authors their share of profit that at least defrays the expenditure on printing.

      Above prescription sounds impossible ?  But short-cuts guarantee no cure.Who will do all this ? You may ask. Well, the answer is: anyone who aspires to be a successful publisher , may be even as a cooperative venture of like-minded authors, like नवारम्भ, किसुन संकल्प लोक or जखन- तखन for a start ! It’s just a food for thought. Yes, I am thinking aloud.