2018 year of political writing, say publishers

From memoirs to essays, a spate of books written by Indian politicians will be out in 2018, which promises to be the year of political tomes, publishers here said.

On the anvil are books written by parliamentarians and other politicians. The list includes works by former ministers Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor, and CPI(M)'s general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Representatives of publishing houses here said the genre of political writing was becoming more and more popular in India.

"The year 2018 will see a number of books written by politicians. Some may be biographies, others are on political situations or equations," said Kapish Mehra, managing director of Rupa Publications.
 
Though politicians have often penned down their thoughts, the publishers said there was a growing interest among young readers in such books.

"We find youngsters are really getting involved (in this genre). As more and more youngsters vote, they also want to read and be better informed (on politics)," said Ananth Padmanabhan, CEO of HarperCollins.

HarperCollins will publish Yechury's book on Indian politics today, described by the publisher as "one of its kind from a Left leader".

Rupa, who had earlier this year published the writings of former president Pranab Mukherjee and former Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly, will be issuing several new books in 2018.

From former Union ministers Sibal, Manish Tiwari and Salman Khurshid to Parliamentarian Tharoor and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, readers will have a wide range to choose from.

Sibal's book is on the UPA and his experience as a minister, Abdullah will focus on Kashmir, while Tiwari's is a memoir.

"I think people enjoy reading political memoirs... because there is a political personality involved. A wide gamut of national and international issues get presented to the readers, with an insider's perspective," Mehra said.

Padmanabhan said Indian politicians today felt the need to voice their views, which was "good for democracy" and the country.

"A book makes a statement. When you write a book, you provide clarity and you give new directions. We are glad that people are sitting down to write their books and are not afraid," Padmanabhan stated.

Books by politicians from other countries will also make an appearance next year. Among them will be the memoirs of French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Called revolution, it is a personal memoir -- why he contested and what he wants to do as a president for a better France," Padmanabhan said.

Publishers also felt it was easier to promote a book when they are authored by prominent politicians. Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Derek O'Brien's book 'Inside Parliament' was number one on the Nielsen Bestsellers' List recently.

"A book on politics, by politicians or on politicians, will always be a bestseller," a publisher said.