Soon you can shop for varsity books in city centre

If all goes well, Mysoreans, especially the literati, will get a Kannada Rajyotsava gift from the University of Mysore. The varsity is planning to dedicate its first ever book shop outside its campus in the heart of the city soon.

The shop will be the sales outlet of Prasaranga, the publication wing of the University of Mysore, currently located on the other side of Manasagangotri (the PG campus of the university) on Mysore-Hunsur road.

The shop, being built at an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh, is taking shape on a bigger space, on the premises of the staff quarters of the varsity near Ramaswamy Circle. The civil works are almost complete and the remaining interior works are expected to be complete soon.

Director of Prasaranga C Naganna told Deccan Herald, Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa is keen to open the shop in the month of November. Apart from Kannada Rajyotsava, another reason to zero in on the particular month is the annual rebate of 33 per cent offered on the varsity publications.

The intention behind opening the shop is to get a step closer to the people, in the central business district (CBD). The location is also ideal with most shops offering similar services in the vicinity.

 It is also close to the bus stand and the railway station, a reason to attract outstation customers.

The location also ensures adequate parking space, making it a complete facility, Naganna added.

Prasaranga has to its credit around 20 to 25 annual publications pertaining to literature. This includes quarterly periodicals — two English and three Kannada — brought out every year and also that of Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies (KIKS), another wing of the varsity.

Besides, dictionaries (English to Kannada), its best-sellers, and volumes of ‘Epigraphia Carnatica’ are periodically published. The annual sales recorded in the previous financial year had touched Rs 50 lakh.

To reach out to the dedicated tribe, Prasaranga sets up make-shift shops at every literary meet and exhibition.

A sales outlet is already functioning on its premises to cater to local and mofusil demands. To help prospective buyers, two exhibition halls, including a mini facility, are kept open throughout the year.