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DC Books

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DC Books is a book publisher based in Kerala, India. It publishes books in Malayalam. It also operates one of the largest book store chains in India,[1] with a network of over 45 bookshops under the DC Books and Current Books brands as well as more than 50 agencies in Kerala.[2]

DC Books
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
FounderDominic Chacko Kizhakemuri
Country of originIndia
Headquarters locationKottayam, Kerala
Official websitewww.dcbooks.com

DC Books edit

DC Books[3] is a publisher and bookseller with headquarters in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It has published over 6,500 titles, mainly literature in Malayalam[citation needed], but also including children's literature, poetry, reference, biography, self-help, yoga, management titles, and foreign translations.

DC Media is the media division of DC Books. DC Media publishes five magazines including Education Insider,[4] Asia's leading magazine on education; Future Medicine,[5] a magazine on the Asian medical industry; Emerging Kerala,[6] Kerala's fastest growing magazine on business, economy and society; Money Indices; and Travel and Flavors.

DC Books was founded in 1974 by Dominic Chacko Kizhakemuri, known as D.C. Kizhakemuri, or DC. At that time, DC was secretary of the Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society, a cooperative venture of Malayalam writers. The society helped writers with business and publishing details and instituted a standard royalty of 30-40%, as well as the system of an 'advance' payment for their books to help enable them to devote themselves to writing full-time. When DC turned his attention to founding DC Books, DC began promoting and creating markets for its books by organizing festivals, clubs, and pre-publication subscriptions, and installment schemes.[7] Their bookclub scheme allows buyers to build a library of their own by buying books on installments. In 1977, Current Books became its sister business. In 2001, DC Books launched dcbooks.com, an Indian local language bookstore with over 4,000 titles.[8] In 2004, DC Books partnered with Corner Books to open a New Delhi branch for Keralites in Delhi.[9]

DC Books is the publisher of several translation dictionaries used by professionals and South Asian Linguists,[10][11] such as their:

  • "English-English-Malayalam dictionary" by T. Ramalingam Pillai (ISBN 81-7130-302-1)
  • Malayalam English Dictionary by M. Varier, et al.

Imprints edit

DC Books is the parent company of the following imprints:

  • DC Books:[12] non-fiction, literature, translations, and reference books
  • Kairali Mudralayam:[13] popular fiction, including children's books and translations
  • Kairali Children's Book Trust:[14] produces children's literature and gives annual awards for best works in Malayalam
  • Mango Books: Children's imprint in English. Winner of Awards for Excellence (2014) constituted by the Federation of Indian Publishers.

Achievements edit

  • In 2004 alone, won five awards in the General, Reference, Paperback, House Magazine, and Catalogues categories for their: Malayalam Encyclopedia, Thesaurus, Charithrakaandom, Pachakuthira.[15]
  • In 2004 alone, D.C. Books brought out 531 titles, the maximum number among Indian publishers
  • DC Books was the first publishers/book sellers in India to get ISO 9000 Certification.[16]

Controversy edit

In 2004, DC Books published a translated version of Britannica Concise Encyclopædia into Malayalam in the name Britannica Malayalam Encyclopedia.[17][18] The book won an award from the Federation of Indian Publishers in 2004.[18]

The sale of the book was banned by a Consumer Court due to numerous factual errors, rendering it an erroneous reference. The court also found that unfair trade practices were employed by the publishers, namely DC Books, Kerala and Encyclopædia Britannica India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.[19]

DC Books Clubs and Festivals edit

The DC International Book Fair[20] offers book releases and exhibitions. The Fair also features youth contests in Spot Poetry Writing, English Quiz, Malayalam Quiz, Street Drama - Malayalam, Declamation, Pen A Story, Special Schools Only, Film Appreciation, English Reading, Malayalam Reading, Painting, and Readers Theatre.

Headquarters edit

 
DC Books headquarters, Kottayam

The headquarters of DC Books on Good Shepherd Street in Kottayam houses an art gallery, hosting exhibits of modern and traditional paintings and sculptures.[21]

DC Media edit

DC Media,[22] the media wing of DC Books was launched in January 2011. DC Media publishes Education Insider, a pan-Asian magazine for the education sector; Future Medicine, a global magazine on health and medicine;Emerging Kerala (Magazine), a magazine which focuses on the socio-economic development of Kerala; and Pachakuthira, a magazine which intervenes into the socio-political space.

References edit

  1. ^ "Public Utilities". Kottayam.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  2. ^ "DC Book Shop Locations". Dcbooks.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  3. ^ dcbooks.com
  4. ^ "Asias largest circulated Education Magazine". Education Insider. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Asia's largest circulated magazine on Medical Industry". Futuremedicineonline.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Emerging Kerala - Emergin KeralaAbout Us". Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  7. ^ "para. 4-5". Indianexpress.com. Retrieved 17 November 2013.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ The Hindu Business Line : Quiet flows the Puzha Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Books, Kerala books". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 May 2004. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Linguist Listserv, nos. 11-13". Archived from the original on 28 February 2008.
  11. ^ "Government of Kerala, Law Library, Acquisitions". November 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Welcome to DC Books". Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
  14. ^ [2][dead link]
  15. ^ "Awards for DC Books". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 12 February 2004. Archived from the original on 11 March 2004.
  16. ^ "Clientele - Total Quality Consultants". Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2010. and "Welcome to DC Books.com-The first ISO Certified Publishing House in India". Archived from the original on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  17. ^ "Britannica in Malayalam". The Hindu. 20 September 2002.[dead link]
  18. ^ a b "Encyclopaedia Britannica wins awards". The Hindu Businessline. 18 February 2004.
  19. ^ George, Sanu (8 August 2004). "Errors in Encyclopaedia Britannica in Malayalam". Yahoo News. IANS. Archived from the original on 15 January 2006.
  20. ^ "dcbookfair.com". dcbookfair.com. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  21. ^ "D C Books in Kottayam India". India9.com. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  22. ^ "Untitled-1". Dcmediacorp.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
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