INTERVIEW 3: DC BOOKS, PALAKKAD

 We the members of the readers and quiz club conducted a survey on the topic of reading habits among students. We interviewed Mr.Ramachandran, the manager of the D.C.Books, Palakkad. We conducted the survey in Malayalam. Here is the transcript in English given below:-

DC BOOKS INTERVIEW

Good Morning Sir

Surya: We are students of KV Kanjikode and members of Readers Club. We are conducting a survey on Reading habits of students. In this regard we would like to ask you some questions, kindly spare some of your valuable   time.

Mr. Ramachandran: Oh! Tell me

Nirupam: How long you have been in this book selling business?

Mr. Ramachandran: You mean me or DC Books?

Nirupam: DC Books, Sir

Mr. Ramachandran: DC Books in Palakkad started around 1985.

Vishnu: Do you think bookselling is still a profitable business?

Mr. Ramachandran: Actually we are all staff here. The profit and loss are taken into consideration by DC Books Headquarters Accounts section. We are selling books and running the shop here.

Nirupam: Is there an increase or decrease in selling books compared to the previous year?

Mr. Ramachandran: Of course, the number of books sold increased this year, and every year the number is increasing.

Vishnu: Nowadays everyone is saying that the book-reading habit is declining among students. Can you tell us the reasons?

Mr. Ramachandran: That is just thinking. If it was so, all these bookshops would have been closed. Reading never dies. See almost all are watching the TV news channels, but they are all reading newspapers too. Those who were reading are still reading. Though ebooks and other medias are there, they will take their own direction, and book reading will have its own direction.

Vishnu: So students are still interested in books only?

Mr. Ramachandran: That we can’t say. You are coming here for the first time.

Nirupam: Do you read the books available in this store?

Mr. Ramachandran: Yes I do skip through the books. But I do not get much time.

Vishnu: In a calendar year which type of books sell most?

Mr. Ramachandran: Almost all the books that received some awards and the books that created some issues are sold most. Old books are always in demand.  New-generation books are not that much in demand. English books generate more interest among readers due to the coverage in magazines and all. Malayalam books do not have that kind of publicity, so mostly old books are in demand.

Nirupam: You are also publishing books. Is there a demand for your books?

Mr. Ramachandran: Why not? Without demand, the bookstore will not survive.

Vishnu: Nowadays, most of the published books are targeted at students. Why is it so when we are saying reading habit among students is declining – just like comics and other books?

Mr. Ramachandran: Of course. It is mainly the children who need to read and learn, not the grownups.  Novels and other books are being published for grownups too. But it is the students who read most, isn’t it? Just like the stories and the textbooks. No one else reads as much as students do, so more books are being published for them. Actually, books are being published for all equally. You feel so because you have much to study and the subjects are more so more books will be there for students.

Surya: Is there a demand for your dictionaries?

Mr. Ramachandran: Yes. Dictionaries are always in demand. We publish all kinds of dictionaries – English, Malayalam, Hindi…

Nirupam: What do you think we can do to motivate the students to read more?

Mr. Ramachandran: You should read all kinds of books, not just one author or one type of books. Read all the books you can get that’s it.

Surya: How to motivate them to read?

Mr. Ramachandran: They should get motivated by themselves. Then only it helps.

Vishnu: You organize book fairs in schools. How good is the response from students?

Mr. Ramachandran: Very good. We have conducted it in your school also and you might have noticed the interest of the students to buy books. That’s why I told you that reading never dies.

Thank you sir.