This industry is scaling new heights every year with the textbooks and non-formal books publishing sectors growing at over 15 percent annually Prophets of doom who predicted the early demise of the traditional paper and print publishing industry following the rapid development of new digital technologies, and advent of e-publishing options such as the Amazon Kindle, have been proved wrong. The book publishing industry in India is scaling new heights every year with the textbooks and non-formal books publishing sectors growing at over 15 percent annually. With an annual output of 8 billion per year, India is the world’s third largest producer nation of English language books after the US and Britain. Unsurprisingly, with its large population of English-proficient middle class, India is now also a preferred outsourcing destination of foreign publishers, especially in the English language. For the proverbial bookworm who loves to curl up with a good book and is equipped with a sizeable vocabulary, a career in publishing is ideal. You not only get to read a plethora of books but also to contract, commission, edit and/or write books the public and various segments within it like to read. Editorial, production and marketing constitute the core activities of books publishing. The editorial department focuses on commissioning, writing, editing, proofing and evolution of a book from the manuscript stage to what finally appears on retail bookshelves in the marketplace. The editor and chief editor direct the policy of every publishing house, manage sub-editors, proof-readers, designers etc and coordinate their work. Aspiring book editors should possess a graduate degree in any discipline as a minimum requirement, and a post-graduate qualification in journalism or publishing. Excellent command of English and proven editing skills are mandatory, unless you are proficient in a regional language and ready to work in vernacular publishing. Expertise is very important, so internship experience with a publishing firm is an added advantage. Those who prefer careers in management, sales, administration and publicity departments should ideally possess postgraduate qualifications. Although specific academic qualifications in publishing are not prescribed as people learn on the job, with competition becoming fierce they are an advantage. Various institutions and universities offer specialised programmes in book publishing. Among the more reputed are the Institute of Book Publishing, New Delhi; National Book Trust, Delhi; Centre for Studies in Book Publishing, University of Calcutta, and Government Institute of Printing Technology, Secunderabad. A slew of job opportunities are available in the publishing industry. One can work in private publishing firms, publication departments of educational and charitable organisations, cultural trusts and publication divisions of government agencies. Opportunities abound not only in India but abroad as well, with major international publishing firms planting their flags in the growing Indian marketplace. In this industry, career progression tends to be fast from entry point as assistant editor to editor, senior editor, managing editor and chief editor. Salaries vary from firm to company, but entry-level postgrads can expect Rs.20,000-25,000 per month with foreign publishing companies inclined to…
