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Ravi Singh quits Penguin. Can't think of a sweeter revenge for Davidar for last year's humiliation than luring away Penguin's key man.

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Bibliofile
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The Option C

He may not be a superstar publisher like his predecessor David Davidar, but when Penguin India’s editor-in-chief Ravi Singh put in his papers last week, there was much excitement in the subcontinent’s booming publishing industry. The quiet and unassuming editor is not only the best known face of the world’s fastest growing publishing house, but also the reason why so many world-renowned writers reject more lucrative advances and stick loyally to Penguin. The story that he’s putting out is that after working for 17 years as an editor in Penguin, he’s looking for a change. But exactly what he wants to change about his job—less commercial compulsions? Less interference from Big Brothers in UK or US?—is anybody’s guess. He’s quitting next month after sending his last book to the printers—Amitav Ghosh’s sequel to Sea of Poppies.

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King Penguin

So who next? With Ravi Singh quitting, the field seems wide open. Perhaps an editor from UK or the US? With publishing in the doldrums in the West, there certainly won’t be a dearth of contenders for the most coveted job in Indian publishing. We’ve already had two Penguin videshi CEOS in a row, so will it be a videshi editor-in-chief now?

Bait With A Gait

One rumour that’s doing the rounds is that ex-Penguin CEO David Davidar is starting his own publishing house and who better as his chief editor than tried and tested former second man, Ravi Singh? Can’t think of a sweeter revenge for Davidar for last year’s humiliation than luring away Penguin’s key man.

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