Even the Finance Minister read the ‘Bahi Khata’ from a tablet… what does that say about paperbacks and books?

A market that has been grilled and hammered by the blows of Covid-19… there’s very little to look forward to. 

So what does it say about your enterprise, if you’re in the business of books and publishing?

The disappointing answer: Not very much!

It’s as if the matter was glossed over, not paid very much attention to… in spite of the massive plumett that the publishing industry has had to bear in the past years. 

Increasing digitalization, complete market takeover by e-commerce giants like Amazon and then finally the Covid-19 pandemic, has caused many to go out of business. Truly, it’s sad. 

The budget had an opportunity to make amends, to bridge the gap between the wronged and the privileged. To help those affected the most- lower classes, farmers, migrant workers and finally the MSME sector. 

The most deserving were left to fend for themselves… 

I won’t lie… I had a lot of expectations from the budget!

I wanted bold strategies to level the playing field, elevate the masses and do much more than just cater to the rich. 

Alas, there’s not much thought or initiative that went into it… most of it feels just all head, and no heart.