Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

LaPreK: From random Facebook posts to Hindi bestseller

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 17 2016 | 12:13 PM IST
What originated as a series of random jottings on Facebook in the year 2012 and converted into a book of short love stories by journalist Ravish Kumar, is now counted among the Hindi best sellers of 2015.
"Ishq Mein Shahar Hona", the first book by Kumar under the series 'LaPreK' -- an acronym for Laghu Prem Katha (Short Love Story) sold more than 14,000 copies within a year, which according to sales estimates of Hindi books is a very high number.
The idea of brief, abstract stories invoking nostalgia and love and with a contemporary narrative was concieved around four years ago by Satyanand Nirupam, editorial director Rajkamal Prakashan, whose imprint Sarthak has published the series.
"LaPreK is an innovative idea that has attracted readers who otherwise were drifting away from Hindi books saying nothing new is being presented in the language. At the same time, it also aims at bringing newer readers to read Hindi books. The aim was to provide people with what connects with them," says Nirupam.
"Ishq Mein Maati Hona" by Bihar-based journalist Girindra Nath Jha was the second book in the series and has sold over 2,000 copies since its release in October last year.
The third book in the series "Ishq Koi News Nahi", penned by Vineet Kumar, a teacher at a Delhi University college, was launched on Saturday at the New Delhi World Book Fair here.
According to the publisher, sales of the first book in the series, launched in January last year is close to 15,000 and that of the second book launched in October at the Patna Book Fair is over 2,000. According to industry estimates books written in Hindi that sell anywhere above 5,000 copies are considered bestsellers.

Also Read

The soaring figures, he says, reflect that 'LaPreK' has proved to be a "turning point" in recent Hindi writing and publishing.
'LaPreK', as Nirupam puts it, is more of a nano-fiction that emerged from random posts he saw on Facebook in 2012 and then decided to bring them out in book form.
Among the challenges currently faced by Hindi he says, is presenting content, which connects with the youth and to connect with people who are always on the move and want things "in less words".
"As a reader when you pick up a book, your first thought
would be 'What good does it have for me or what would I lose if I don't read it?' This book is for both the older as well as younger generation which thought Hindi writing has become stagnant," Nirupam says.
Moreover, he adds "People look for their reflections in books and stories. They connect to the emotions, actions and thoughts similar to theirs and the kind of quotidian language they speak."
"It's a fast paced world now. People with smart phones have become smart readers. Nobody has the time to read lengthy pieces. They want everything 'on-the-go'. News in less than 300 words, editorial in not more than 500 words...
"Lengthy articles become bookmarks 'to be read on some leisurely Sunday' Eight-ten line stories where there are one or two lines which connect to us and only writings go beyond time that are poignant and touch a chord with life. I thought it has that element. It simplifies the complications that we are all grappled with," he says.
According to the editorial director the LaPreK series does not fit into traditional category of literature and is only a "means to bring back the readers who seemed to have drifted away from Hindi."
Girindranath Jha, writer of "Ishq Mein Maati Sona," however differs from Nirupam
"I consider it traditional literature and shouldn't be taken lightly, there is some serious matter to it but then again it's up to the reader on how they take it.
"Not everyone is a serious reader also. People enjoy less-serious works too. Like someone travelling from Delhi to Patna can in that short span of time read this book and enjoy. Content is serious, but easy to read. However, it would take more than one reading to gauge the depth. Plus the graphic illustrations are there. A lot has been worked on it," says Girindra.
Ravish Kumar, a popular news anchor says, "Just read it and enjoy. It can be read in 30 minutes. How can we theorize our own work? It is for the reader and critics to do that."
The content of the book, he says, "is a contemporary narrative, absolutely."
"It belongs to this time. If it will remain there tomorrow, or if we will remain tomorrow, that nobody knows."
All the three books in the series have been illustrated by Vikram Nayak.

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 17 2016 | 12:13 PM IST

Next Story