Kathmandu, April 16:

Lack of a book policy in the country is not only affecting the promotion of books, but also depriving writers of getting national as well as international exposure, publishers said.

It has also resulted in haphazard prices of books and promoted plagiarism, they added.

Govinda Prasad Shrestha, the manager of the Ratna Pustak Bhandar at Bagbazaar, said there has been unhealthy competition in the market due the lack of a book policy. “There is no mechanism to control the price of books and the quality in terms of paper and design used,” he added.

Ramesh Bhattarai, the managing director of the Sajha Prakashan, said the publication houses were bearing huge losses due to the lack of a book policy. Pirated copies of biggest selling books are easily available on streets.

According to Ramesh Bhattarai, Sajha Prakashan alone has been bearing a loss worth Rs 10 million every year. He also said he believed that the introduction of a book policy would curb plagiarism.

Ramesh Bhattarai claimed that Shyam Prakashan in Darjeeling has pirated the biggest selling Nepali books like Muna Madan, Pandhra Tara, Nepali Sahitya and Sajha Kabita.

So much so, the Tribhuvan University has been ‘pirating’ the publications of the Sajha Prakashan, including popular novels like Basai, Nepali Kabita (Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4), Nepali Katha (1,3, and 4) and Nepali Nibandha (Volume 1,2 and 3) without seeking a permission from the Sajha Prakashan.

However, Tribhuvan University authorities say their intention was not to pirate the books of the Sajha Publication, but to include the Nepali literary creations in the textbooks.

“Sajha Publication is aware of what the TU has been doing and they have not made any formal complaint regarding the issue,” said Kedar Prasad Sharma, executive director of the Curriculum Development Centre, TU.

In Nepal, there is a Copyright Act in place to protect the creations of writers.

“Yes, there are some activities related to piracy. If we find out any piracy, we issue written notice to the offenders, inform them about the policy and try to control piracy. We have just completed a documentary, which will go on air soon, to create awareness on piracy,” said Janmajay

Regmi, registrar at the Nepal Copyright Registrar’s Office.