Navakarnataka book house will take Athree legacy forward'

Mangalore, April 1: Navakarnataka book store will strive to take the legacy of Athree book store forward, said R S Rajaram, Managing Director, Navakarnataka publications after the book store was inaugurated at Balmatta in Mangalore on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering at the formal programme held at Sahodaya auditorium after the inauguration of the new book store, Mr. Rajaram said that Athree and Navakarnataka publications had been maintaining good relations from the past several years. He even recalled his association with the father of G N Ashokvardhan, who owned the Athree book store and said that both Athree and Navakarnataka book stores stand for similar principles. “We are not into the black business of books, neither have we tried pleasing the government. We held our own exhibitions across the state and it is through our readers that we have grown to this level”, he said.

Recalling the genesis of Navakarnataka publications in 1960, Mr. Rajaram said that in those days Mangalore was blessed with many intellectuals and people with intellectual thinking. “But today the situation has changed. Today killings and violence in the name of religion and culture has risen”, he said.

Prof B A Viveka Rai, litterateur and visiting professor at the Wurzburg University of Germany, inaugurated the book store. In his address, he emphasized on encouraging literature with scientific temper. “Athree book store was an example of how an institution based on ideology could be built. One could not find books on astrology or jyotishya-shastra, and other superstitions and blind beliefs at Athree book store. Navakarnataka publications have also encouraged literature with scientific temper”, he opined.

Lamenting that there is a huge 'publishing lobby' that works behind the scenes making book publishing a dirty business, Mr. Rai stated that Mr. Ashokvardhan was an exception. “One expects morality in trade. But today the exponents of morality (books) are being used for immoral purposes”, he said.

Mr. Rai also said that although many are understandably unhappy with Mr. Ashokvardhan's decision to shut Athree down, they must allow him to lead his life the way he wants to. “Everybody wants a retired life. Why should we stop him. He is interested in environmental issues and Yakshagana. We must allow him to do what he wants and stopping him from closing down would be selfish on our part”, he said.

Expressing his thoughts on the occasion Mr. Ashokvardhan said that when he decided to close down Athree, he wanted to make sure that the book business does not get orphaned and hence chose Navakarnataka publications for the hand-over.

Navakarnataka book store has begun sales and has announced 20% discount on book sales for a month.