Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh book in J K Rowling’s money-spinning series, continues to redefine commercial and critical success in India. The numbers, in some way, suggest a boom in children’s literature in the country. Deccan Herald tried to trace the truth in Bangalore. 

Children’s sections in bookstores seem to have turned into Harry Potter sections. Newly-launched books for children are hard to find. Finding children’s books by Indian authors is still tougher. Apart from the Potter series, sales for other children’s books are at a snail’s pace, says V S Reddy, Manager, Sapna Book House. 

Indian authors don’t write or don’t sell?

Dr Poonam Kohli, Managing Director, Punya Publishing Pvt Ltd points out that there are many Indian writers working on children’s literature. Nyagrodha, a book for children by Indian author Kalpish Ratna, is selling really well, says Rajan Das, General Manager, Crossword. The sale of 200-300 copies of Nyagrodha is termed high at Crossword that has sold more than 20,000 copies of Potter books (all the six volumes) so far. The numbers say it all.

Prakash Gangaram, owner of Gangaram’s Book Bureau, says, “There is hardly anything new for children other than Potter. Abol Tabol was the only new book by an Indian author that sold recently. Indian publishers need to take the risk of publishing unknown authors.”

 “The books by Indian authors lack in exposure, shelf visibility and marketing budget that is available to international books,” says Dr Kohli.  “We don’t have the market for Indian books, they don’t sell though they have some substance,” says Annie Chandy Matthew, Director of Unisun Publication.

Why nothing beats Potter?

“J K Rowling started writing Harry Potter for her own kids... therefore, the language used is communicative, as though she was talking to her kids. This makes the book more acceptable for kids,” says Das. Tremendous marketing, big-budget movie adaptations and media hype have also contributed to the series’ popularity, says Matthew.

Do children read more?

“Only a few kids read these days; Harry Potter is just an exception and that’s probably because it was promoted well,” says Matthew. Parents decide on what their children would read and that shows in the sale of books that they liked in their childhood.

Classics like Hardy Boys, The Famous Five and The Secret Seven are still being read, according to many bookstore owners in the City. Amar Chitra Katha series, Tintin, Asterix, Calvin and Hobbes and other comic and illustrated series are also selling well.

The recent high sales of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia have been triggered by their movie adaptations, says Krishna, who owns The Bookworm. Which other book could have done well, if it was marketed well? There are many, according to Matthew. Dr Kohli agrees with her and specifically mentions a science fiction
Year 7007, by Vijay Kumar.

EXPERTSPEAK

“Children’s love of reading is encouraged by books available at home during their formative years. In fact, many kids learn that books with pictures are exciting even before they go to school. This is exactly what has happened with Harry Potter. A child discussing about Potter books with other children further triggers excitement and curiosity among kids to know more about the book.”

— Dr Meena Jain, Child and Adolescent Psychologist