Chennai: The sales achieved by books of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil at the ongoing Chennai Book Fair have been the institiue’s best in the past seven years. Two weeks before the event ends, the stalls set up by CICT have sold three times more than last year, said institute director R Chandrasekaran.
“This year, CICT’s books have already sold for ₹4.5 lakh against ₹1lakh last year,” he said. The institute which brings out translations of Tamil literature works and other niche research works has included new titles this year. Titles like Hindi and Kannada translations of Tholkappiyam — considered the oldest surviving Tamil literary work — and English translations of Tamil epics like Silappadhigaram and Manimegalai are among the best-sellers.
“This year, we brought out a compendium of Tirukkural translations in English including 18 different versions that attracted more readers. Books like Early Tamil Epigraphy by Iravatham Mahadevan have been constants in our stall for the past seven years, but this year, the title had more sales,” said Chandrasekaran.
Modern readers, apart from research scholars, too have developed an interest in heritage of language and other such aspects after Keeladi excavation and similar archaeological undertakings. “We are selling most titles at 50% discount as our aim is to reach out more to the public than making profit,” Chandrasekaran said.
CICT earlier this year invited translators of foreign languages including French-Creole and Irish to work on a Tirukkural project which would find place in the book fair next year.
The institute will also bring out translations in 10 scheduled Indian languages and 66 non-scheduled Indian languages.
“This year, CICT’s books have already sold for ₹4.5 lakh against ₹1lakh last year,” he said. The institute which brings out translations of Tamil literature works and other niche research works has included new titles this year. Titles like Hindi and Kannada translations of Tholkappiyam — considered the oldest surviving Tamil literary work — and English translations of Tamil epics like Silappadhigaram and Manimegalai are among the best-sellers.
“This year, we brought out a compendium of Tirukkural translations in English including 18 different versions that attracted more readers. Books like Early Tamil Epigraphy by Iravatham Mahadevan have been constants in our stall for the past seven years, but this year, the title had more sales,” said Chandrasekaran.
Modern readers, apart from research scholars, too have developed an interest in heritage of language and other such aspects after Keeladi excavation and similar archaeological undertakings. “We are selling most titles at 50% discount as our aim is to reach out more to the public than making profit,” Chandrasekaran said.
CICT earlier this year invited translators of foreign languages including French-Creole and Irish to work on a Tirukkural project which would find place in the book fair next year.
The institute will also bring out translations in 10 scheduled Indian languages and 66 non-scheduled Indian languages.
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