On December 18, 2024, India Post arbitrarily discontinued its 'Book Post' service, shocking book lovers and the entire book industry.

This initiative was thoughtfully designed to promote education, encourage reading habits, and facilitate the nationwide dissemination of knowledge. Under the Registered Book Post (RBP) service, shipping five kilos of books costs a mere Rs 80, with nationwide rates unmatched by any courier service. Moreover, India Post's vast network, spanning 19,101 pin codes and covering 154,725 post offices in India, ensured prompt delivery—most parcels arrived within a week, and local deliveries within a city often reached their destinations the next day. The government provided these subsidised rates specifically to nurture a culture of reading. Books, magazines and periodicals were all eligible for these concessions.

Yet, without any discussion, warning, or stakeholder consultation, the government abruptly eliminated this option. Last week, the RBP category was silently removed from the postal software at midnight, catching even postal employees off guard. Can you imagine our disbelief when we visited the post office and were informed that RBP was no longer an option?

The abolition of this service has sent ripples of distress through the publishing industry. With shipping charges soaring, many readers hesitate to pay ₹78 postage on a book priced at Rs 100. This decision risks further undermining India’s already fragile reading culture.

Consider the stark difference in charges between RBP and 'Registered Parcel: A one kg RBP' cost Rs 32, compared to Rs 78 by 'Registered Parcel'. For two kgs, the rates are Rs 45 and Rs 116 respectively and for five kgs, Rs 80 and Rs 229.

Adding to this blow is another ill-conceived policy: imposing a 5% import duty on sample books. Foreign publishers frequently send complimentary copies of their translations of our publications in foreign languages, yet this is the first time the government has imposed such a duty. While taxing books imported for commercial purposes may be justifiable, imposing import duty on non-commercial sample copies is inexplicable and counterproductive.

Critics argue that this decision is another example of the government's arbitrary actions, which have often been counterproductive.

As India reels under the repercussions of this shortsighted decision, its literary and educational objectives stand jeopardised. The capricious discontinuation of the Book Post service is a significant regression in the nation’s commitment to literacy, education, and intellectual growth.

At a time when ideas and knowledge are the foundation of progress, dismantling a service that facilitated their dissemination to the farthest corners of the country is nothing short of a tragedy.

Manish Modi is a writer, publisher and proprietor of Hindi Granth Karyalay, a publishing house since 1912