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Frog Books’ debut book, CrossRoad, launched

Mumbai: Frog Books, a division of Net Act Communications, has just launched its first book, CrossRoad, a debut novel by Jasmeet Chhabra.

The book was launched at a glittering function at the Press Club, Mumbai, by P K Ravindranath, veteran journalist and writer, former press advisor to the Maharashtra chief minister and ex-director (publications), Nehru Centre, Mumbai.

In his inaugural address, Ravindranath said: “I feel glad that there are still some young people who are committed to bring out books that deserve to be published, but do not find any major publisher. CrossRoad, the first book by Frog Books, published by Sunil K Poolani, is a fine example of commitment, quality and efficiency. I hope new endeavours like this will hit the nail in the head of established writers like Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie.”

After the launch, Chhabra read out excerpts from the book and also talked about his own work: “CrossRoad loosely knits characters who are essentially each one of us — our private moments and our social best, both in their eternal struggle to get the better of our breaths.”

A panel discussion on ‘Indian Writing in English: The Future and Possibilities for the Young Writer?’ was also organised to commemorate the publishing debut of both Frog Books and Chhabra.

Those who attended the discussion were senior journalist and writer V Gangadhar; well-known writer and columnist Kalpish Ratna; young writer and columnist Rohit Gupta; and literary agent Somi Ghosh. The debate was moderated by C P Surendran, well-known poet and journalist.

The general opinion of the discussion was that though there was a market out there for young writers, nobody had any idea how to get into it. Surendran said: “Writing, in any language, is a risky business in India — you don’t find a publisher, you don’t find a market, you don’t find readers and you don’t get money. We should realise all this and move with the times.”

Gangadhar said good Indian English writing is suffering because writers do not devote much time to quality. “Most writers have to survive and depend on others sources of income; what suffers in the process is quality.”

But Ratna negated the point saying Indian writers are bereft of both quality and quantity. “I find most so-called established writers haven’t written enough. How can you say an X writer is brilliant if he has only written just three books and a handful of pieces in his lifetime? This needs to change.”

Gupta’s idea of writing was different. “I think good writing would only come if the writer is not affluent; the writer should be someone who should depend his survival on just writing. If he doesn’t write much, and qualitatively, his kitchen and the tummy would be empty. A good writer go through hardships.” Most panellists and audience didn’t agree, though.

Those who participated in the debate from the audience’s side included former Economic Times editor Kiron Kasbekar, writer and columnist Dilip Raote and former Sunday Observer resident editor Anjali Mathur.

For further details, please contact:

Archana Singh

Tel: 022 27716577

Email: archana@netactcommunications.com

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