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M.N.Rao (1924-1978) was a towering personality in Indian publishing
who promoted Telugu literature throughout the country and abroad.
Beginning his career as a textbook publisher in his father's firm,
M.Seshachalam&Co., he entered general publishing after the
nationalisation of textbooks in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
at a time when books other than translations from Bengali and
Hindi were few and far between. He brought books from all corners
of the country within reach of the common man through two innovative
ventures : the Home Library Plan - which now covers at least 44,000
families- and EMESCO Pocket Books Programme, under which 450 books,
in addition to classics, have been issued.
Rao played
a significant role in all branches of publishing. He edited a
magazine, Pusthaka Prapancham (Book World), and distributed books
in India and abroad.
He served
the publishing industry in several important capacities. As President
of Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India
he conducted seminars, symposia, training courses and workshops
on book production in India and abroad. He was a member of the
Book Publication Committee constituted by the Andhra Government
to advise it on nationalisation of textbooks; Board of Trustees
of Southern Languages Book Trust; Advisory committee of Madras
Institute of Development Studies; a founder member of Publishers
Association of South India, and Director of the Book Industry
Council of South India. |
M N Rao - The Doyen of Telugu Publishing