“The publication of Chetan Bhagat’s novel was a watershed moment for the Indian publishing industry,” Mr. Gupta said. “He spawned a new breed of writers who wanted to write books that connected to the average Indian reader and didn’t care about literary merit and acclaim. Publishing houses committed to publishing such books sprang up all over the country and big multinationals had to shed their elitism and enter this space.”
As Book Sales Grow, Publishers Flock To India
Salman Rushdie Barred From Speaking at Prestigious Literary Festival in India
A literature platform like the Jaipur festival is a place for free speech in the best democratic traditions. Salman Rushdie has attended several literary events and forums in India in recent years without incident. This includes his attending the Commonwealth Writers Prize awards in 2000, and the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2007.
