Kamasutra, the fourth century ancient Indian work, compiled by sage Vatsyayana, is an extensive treatise on the art of making
love and arguably the bible of
erotica not just in India, but across the world.
The immense popularity of this text is evident, when Sourav Garg, publisher at Brijwasi, revealed that their latest work, Kamasutra -- Aphorisms of Love, by renowned scholar of erotica Lance Dane, had pre-sold 35,000 copies before its release, even though the price was a whopping Rs 3,900 a copy.
While a limited 5,000 copies have been sanctioned for the first edition, subsequent print runs are on course. Garg hopes to tap the Spanish and Italian market as well.
A look at various retail lists the world over will reveal Kamasutra-inspired titles ranging from Kamasutra del Japon, Kamasutra illustrado to Pearson Education''s The complete idiot''s guide to Kamasutra.
While the online sales of these
versions would probably go into millions, India does not get any share out of it.
According to Dane, who has contributed to over 20 Kamasutra books before coming out with his version, the total combined sales of various versions of the Kamasutra he has worked upon (including those in foreign languages, abridged versions and coffee table books) would exceed a 100,000 easily and the number is growing.