Lockdown improves reading habit, record Rs 17L sale at Tamil Univ book fair

Similarly, many in Tamil Nadu went back to the reading as was evident at the Thanjavur Tamil University’s where sales at the annual book fair reached a record Rs 17.50 lakh against the usual Rs 2-2.5 lakh.

The Thanjavur Tamil university book fair has almost become a ritual and is organised every year from September 15 in view of Anna’s birth anniversary and lasts till the month end. The books published by the university have a 50% discount offer.

This year too Vice Chancellor G Balasubramanian inaugurated the fair on the usual date and such record sales were reported that the people urged the university to extend the fair till October 31 and the response was very good. Books worth Rs 17.50 lakh were sold.

“Usually, the book fair sales are anything between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 2.75 lakh every year but this year was remarkable,” said the Vice Chancellor, adding that this year, the catalogue and price list of the books published by the university was shared through the social media and online money transaction was also introduced owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence orders from various parts of Tamil Nadu and pan India were also received. Balasubramanian said that the previous year’s book fair sale was Rs 2.75 lakh and the sale during Tamil New year was Rs 2.23 lakh.

“The public response this time around was enormous and this just goes to show how people spent most of their time reading during the lockdown. This apart, the details shared through the social media had reached Tamil language lovers all over the world,” the VC said. Balasubramanian and the Registrar (in-charge) K Chinnappan lauded the efforts of Tamil University Publishing department Director (in-charge) C Thiyagarajan and his colleagues for the sales.

Meanwhile the VC said that the university printed 3,500 copies of ‘Semmozhi Endra Elakkanam matrum Elakkiyam’ (Tamil Classical Grammar and Literature) and all the copies were sold out. “The University has been planning a reprinting and has sought the permission for commencing the works,” he added.