Power of Print: Pharos media's books that lead to fresh discourse, demolish myths, clear misconceptions
Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
NewsBits.in
In an era when mediamen who were asked to bend, crawled and when institutions fall apart, it's a group that courageously publishes books that sets it apart from other major media houses.
On one hand it publishes books that set a refreshing discourse and demolish myths, on the other it prints titles that could be considered 'too hot to handle'.
The Pharos Group has a long list of such publications--from SM Mushrif's Who Killed Karkare, a bestseller in English, Urdu and Hindi, to Shamsul Islam's works on RSS and Hindutva.
Just when major media groups shy away from even publishing articles that are deemed anti-establishment and publications even refuse to come up with books that may offend the powerful, the group has shown the way and comes up with titles that include books which ideologically counter the majoritarian politics and confront the right-wing narrative.
Subhash Gatade's Hindutva's Second Coming, Saeed Naqvi's 'Watan Mein Ghair Hindustan Musalman' are also among the titles that have drawn attention of readers from across the world. Also, Shamsul Islam's other major works have been published by Pharos Group.
LINK: Major books and publications of the Pharos Group that have led to debates, discourses
Some of the books include 'Gujarat Parde Ke Peechhey' by RB Sreekumar, the former ADG (intelligence) of Gujarat police, and RSS Marketing Fascism as Hindu Nationalism. Rana Ayub had self-published the English edition of her book, Gujarat Files. But the Hindi and Urdu editions are being distributed by Pharos Group.
The latest to hit stands is Mushrif's new book that has been in the news. Several other major books published by Pharos group include the 'Ankahi hairat angez dastanein', Golwalkar's We or our nationhood defined, a critique with full text of the book and Yugal Kishore Sharan Shastri's book on RSS.
Renowned scholar Zafarul Islam Khan heads the group. Khan, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies from University of Manchester. Right now, he holds the post of Chairman of the Delhi Minorities' Commission. He has been an editor and publisher of The Milli Gazette. The books are published in English, Hindi and Urdu.
