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The Bestseller
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Wanted President APJ Abdul Kalam in words. If that were the demand, six book publishers in six Indian languages fulfilled it in style with the release of "Who is Kalam" in 2003. ANJANA RAJAN finds out.
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IN AN age when it is difficult to find role models, President APJ Abdul Kalam stands out as a strong favourite across the age and social spectrum. No wonder one of the most successful publications of 2003 is the book "Who is Kalam?" by R. Ramanathan. Brought out by Konark Publishers Private Limited, the book was the result, says Konark Managing Director KPR Nair, of an idea that came to him even before Kalam became the President of India. "Dr. Kalam had come to release a book, `Contract Management' by R. Ramanathan. While talking to him, I said, `Now we need a book about you,' and he said, `Who will write about me?' But later Ramanathan said he would like to do it."
Prabhat Kumar of Prabhat Prakashan and S.M. Zafar Ali of Aakif Book Depot, who brought out the Hindi and Urdu translations respectively, are united in their praise for a work that is "extraordinary" and provides inspiration to the common man. Zafar Ali, who translated the book himself as "Kaun Hain Kalam?" feels that a book of this kind, about "such a spiritual, literary man" had not been published in Urdu before. While Urdu books do not normally go beyond the first print run of 1000 copies, this one has. Praising Kalam as "such an important man who is a light for others, a target for people to strive to reach," he treasures former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral's compliment for his book: "I have seen the book in English, I have sensed it in Hindi, but I read it in Urdu."
The Hindi "Kya Hain Kalam?" meanwhile, is into the third print of both its hard and soft cover editions. Translated by Deepika Rani, the print orders of "Kya Hain Kalam?" have been way over the normal numbers, with 8000 soft backs.
Some readers found the book short on new information, saying that it contained little beyond what they had already come across in earlier publications. But this, according to Nair, was done by design. "Since Kalam had written three books, he wanted a book which would distil his experiences. So our book is distilled from other books," he explains, adding that it presents him as a scientist, as a human being, as a person to work with - since the author had worked closely with him for over seven years as Financial Advisor in the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
On the book being published simultaneously in six languages, Nair recalls, "I thought, let me also make some history." He planned on eight Indian languages, but it was finally released in only six - Hindi, Urdu, English, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi. The Telugu and Kannada translations were published later in the year, and Gujarati, Assamese, Oriya, Bengali, and Punjabi are on the anvil in the New Year. The feat, says Nair, has earned an entry in the Limca Book of Records, 2004.
With all that was reprehensible in India 2003, one beacon of light has certainly been APJ Abdul Kalam, who continues to reveal his upright, imaginative and vivacious nature. Prabhat Kumar has plans to publish "Mere Sapnon Ka Bharat" - the Hindi translation of Kalam's "India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium" in time for the annual Book Fair. And Zafar Ali promises the soft back edition of "Kaun Hain Kalam?" whose sales, he estimates, should cross the 2500 mark. This most popular of Presidents, it seems, will continue to go to press in the New Year, and a good thing too!
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