A ‘Chair Poetry Evening’ set at the 2024 Kolkata International Poetry Festival, a program normally held in February since 2018. Image – Getty: Partha Kar
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Meaningful Stories for Readers Across the Subcontinent’
New Delhi’s Penguin Random House India, under the leadership of CEO Gaurav Shrinagesh, announces a new exclusive distribution agreement with Grin Publishing, the publishing arm of the Grin Group.
Grin’s name is related to sat-chit-ananda, named for the Indian philosophical concept of an ultimate state of being, and Grin Publishing, according to its self-description, “focuses on publishing India’s timeless stories and wisdom for a global audience, knowledge that can “bring a smile to every face.”
The company was co-founded by Rishi Suri and Hindol Sengupta and its key titles include Ram: A Global History; Life, Death, and the Ashtavakra Gita; and Children of the Chinar, an anthology of stories about leading Kashmiri women.
Manoj Satti
In comments on the new arrangement, Manoj Satti, Penguin Select’s division head at PRH India, is quoted about the newly announced agreement, saying that Grin Publishing “brings fresh perspectives to India’s cultural and historical narratives.
“This partnership,” he says, “reflects our shared vision of bringing meaningful stories to readers across the subcontinent.
“Together, we aim to bridge the past and the present, delivering knowledge and inspiration to readers far and wide.”
Rishi Suri
At Grin, co-founder Suri is quoted, saying, “We cherish the knowledge and wisdom of India, believing these stories have universal relevance and appeal.
“Collaborating with the wonderful team at PRH India,” he says, “gives us the opportunity to share these narratives with the widest possible audience.”
Hindol Sengupta
And Suri’s Grin co-founder, Hindol Sengupta, says, “As a longtime Penguin Random House India author, I’m absolutely thrilled to add another exciting dimension to my work with PRHI through this distribution and sales agreement for Grin Publishing.
“My experience as an author inspired me to venture into publishing. I love books. I believe in their transformative power and their bright future.
“Today, beautifully produced books are more sought after than ever, and they remain the best vehicles for taking India’s great stories to the world.”
Grin Publishing
Penguin Random House India has contracts with what it characterizes as “several” local and international publishing houses in India and the subcontinent, with Grin Publishing presumably the newest of the group.
In India, PRH produces what it says is more than 250 new titles annually, maintaining its active backlist of at least 3,000 books. While its list has a broad coverage of genres, Grin is focused not only on the legacy stories of India but also on books in wellness, mental health, and self-care.
More from Publishing Perspectives on book distribution is here, more on Penguin Random House India is here, and more on the Indian book market is here.
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