New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) From memoirs to essays, a spateof books written by Indian politicians will be out in 2018,which promises to be the year of political tomes, publishershere said.
On the anvil are books written by parliamentarians andother politicians. The list includes works by former ministersKapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor, and CPI(M)'s general secretarySitaram Yechury.
Representatives of publishing houses here said the genreof political writing was becoming more and more popular inIndia.
"The year 2018 will see a number of books written bypoliticians. Some may be biographies, others are on politicalsituations or equations," said Kapish Mehra, managing directorof Rupa Publications.
Though politicians have often penned down their thoughts,the publishers said there was a growing interest among youngreaders in such books.
"We find youngsters are really getting involved (in thisgenre). As more and more youngsters vote, they also want toread and be better informed (on politics)," said AnanthPadmanabhan, CEO of HarperCollins.
HarperCollins will publish Yechury's book on Indianpolitics today, described by the publisher as "one of its kindfrom a Left leader".
Rupa, who had earlier this year published the writings offormer president Pranab Mukherjee and former Samata Partyleader Jaya Jaitly, will be issuing several new books in 2018.
From former Union ministers Sibal, Manish Tiwari andSalman Khurshid to Parliamentarian Tharoor and former Jammuand Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, readers will have awide range to choose from.
Sibal's book is on the UPA and his experience as aminister, Abdullah will focus on Kashmir, while Tiwari's is amemoir.
"I think people enjoy reading political memoirs...
because there is a political personality involved. A widegamut of national and international issues get presented tothe readers, with an insider's perspective," Mehra said.
Padmanabhan said Indian politicians today felt the needto voice their views, which was "good for democracy" and thecountry.
"A book makes a statement. When you write a book, youprovide clarity and you give new directions. We are glad thatpeople are sitting down to write their books and are notafraid," Padmanabhan stated.
Books by politicians from other countries will also makean appearance next year. Among them will be the memoirs ofFrench President Emmanuel Macron.
"Called revolution, it is a personal memoir -- why hecontested and what he wants to do as a president for a betterFrance," Padmanabhan said.
Publishers also felt it was easier to promote a book whenthey are authored by prominent politicians. Trinamool CongressMember of Parliament Derek O'Brien's book 'Inside Parliament'was number one on the Nielsen Bestsellers' List recently.
"A book on politics, by politicians or on politicians,will always be a bestseller," a publisher said. PTI CSNBDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.