`I believe books are for ever'
R. Madhavan Nair
|
N.E. Balakrishna Marar is a publisher who has blossomed into an author.
|
Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
BOOKS AND THE MAN: N.E. Balakrishna Marar at his book stall.
N.E. Balakrishna Marar joined an elite club of authors when his autobiography `Kanneerinte Madhuryam,' (`Sweetness of Tears') was released recently in Kozhikode at a gathering of literary celebrities.
The book was released at a function held in the six-storeyed building that houses his Touring Book Stall (TBS), which symbolises his spectacular rise to the top of the publishing world in Kerala from his humble beginnings as a book-seller who went around on a bicycle looking for buyers.
Although a school dropout, his worldly wisdom, sharp business acumen and an indefatigable determination to succeed helped him achieve his ambition of becoming a successful book seller. Evidence of it is packed into his autobiography.
An eventful life
Says Marar modestly about how he came to write his autobiography: "I had a habit of jotting down some of the incidents in my life that had touched my heart; and about people who had supported me when I was struggling to earn a living as a book-seller; and about incidents which, by hindsight, I realise had changed the course of my life. I have compiled these as my life's story. I wonder if I would have been able to do it but for the gentle persuasion of my friends and well-wishers."
Whatever the compulsions behind its creation, Marar's book has given him a place in a small but distinguished club of publishers who have blossomed into authors.
His maiden literary effort is hailed as a major achievement by distinguished literary personalities. Celebrated Hindi poet Ashok Vajpayee flew in from Delhi to release Marar's autobiography after it was read out in English to him by writer M. Mukundan.
Marar had a colourless childhood. He had to work as a waiter and later as a newspaper boy before he became a book-seller. Now he is respected by book-lovers as was a businessman who chose to make his living selling books even though the returns were meagre, especially in the early part of his career. Life was quite hard those days, reminisces Marar.
Buying a bicycle to move around with the books was a brilliant marketing decision for he could then launch a mobile workshop. However, his business took time to flourish and there were times when he felt disheartened.
His friend for decades, historian M.G.S. Narayanan, said after reading `Kanneerinte Madhuryam,' that the Balakrishna Marar he found in his book was quite different from the Marar he had known. The book also offers glimpses of the vibrant social and cultural scenes of Kozhikode. There are photographs of public functions featuring Malayalam's literary legends like M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Sukumar Azhikode in their youth; and of author K.P. Kesava Menon and poetess Balamaniamma; it also speaks of college teachers, particularly the late R. Ramachandran (winner of National Academy Award for poetry) who bought books from their none-too spectacular earnings and encouraged their students and friends to buy and read books in English from Marar.
Balakrishna Marar is a member of the Kerala State Government's Book Development Council since 1985 and two-time winner of the award of the Delhi-based Federation of Indian Publishers for best publishers. He is also full of optimism about the future of publishing business. "I do not believe in all the talk that the printed word is about to die. I believe books are for forever," says Marar.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
