What is the “genre hierarchy” in Indian language publishing?It’s the informal ranking of genres by cultural status—where poetry and literary fiction are treated as “serious,” while romance, pulp, devotional and mass fiction may sell more but get less respect.Why is poetry considered higher status than romance or thrillers?Because awards, academic...

Why are foreign books translated so heavily into Indian languages?They carry built-in recognition, lower copyright costs, and reduced financial risk for publishers.Is translation easier than writing original Indian-language books?No. Translation requires high literary skill, but it is easier for publishers to approve because the content is already validated.Are Indian writers...

I am part of a book club WhatsApp group where people from across India discuss books throughout the year. I, too, chime in at times, not always, Sharing a small snippet from the group, across the year. For anonymity purposes, naming the individuals as "someone"Someone: "Ok, so you tell me,...