Mysore/Mysuru: Jameel Sawanna, representing Bengaluru-based Sawanna Prakashana, discussed the evolving landscape of Kannada language usage.

While the number of Kannada speakers is declining, the Kannada publishing industry remains resilient.

Speaking at the panel discussion on the topic ‘art of publishing — a link between readers and writers’ during the Mysuru Literature Festival, Jameel highlighted the following points:

Royalties and Bestselling Works: Dr. S. L. Bhyrappa, a renowned writer from Mysuru, used to receive royalties for his books. Currently, works by Mookanahalli Rangaswamy, another Mysuru-based author, such as ‘Share Market’, ‘Sirivantanige Sarala Sootragalu,’ and ‘Hana Hani,’ are selling exceptionally well in the market.

“Rangaswamy received a royalty of Rs. 5.5 lakh for these works, indicating that there is a substantial audience for books aligned with readers’ preferences. Readers play a crucial role by supporting publishers through book purchases. Publishers should proactively adopt marketing strategies to promote book sales. Despite language shifts, the Kannada publishing industry continues to thrive, adapting to changing reader tastes,” he noted.

He displayed a pocket-sized Bhagavadgita copy that can be read in an hour-and-a-half. As a new entrant in the publishing industry, Ningaraju Chittannavar (Chintana Chittara Prakashana) views publishing not merely as an industry but as an integral part of life and culture. Publishers have a responsibility to record the joys, sorrows, pains, and pleasures of people. He has organised 97 book-reading programmes across the State.

Abhiruchi Ganesh (Abhiruchi Prakashana) highlighted that reprints of works by great writers such as Kuvempu, Poornachandra Tejasvi, and Devanur Mahadeva continue to be popular, even decades after their initial publication.

Other publishers, including Talukina Venkannaiah Smaraka Granthamaale Prakashana’s Pratibha Chayapathi and Meena Mysore, were also present.