Mizan publishing house launches first e-book in Indonesia<\/p>\n
By Ahmad Junaidi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For the computer-literate, reading a book may
\nsoon go out of fashion. Now, you can read it on your PC or down
\nload it from the Internet to your pocket computer and read it any
\ntime you wish.<\/p>\n
Mizan, a Bandung-based publishing house specializing in
\nIslamic books, has become the first to have launched an e-book.
\nThe book, titled Wasiat Sufi Imam Khomeini kepada Putranya Ahmad
\nKhomenei (Testament of Sufi Imam Khomeini to his son Ahmad
\nKhomenei), was launched two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Mizan officials claim that in less than one week, more than
\n2,000 readers had downloaded the e-book.<\/p>\n
\"We are pleased that our first e-book has received much public
\nappreciation. Of course, we cannot compare it with other e-books
\nreleased abroad, but for us it's pleasing,\" Mizan's promotion
\nmanager Gangsar Sukrisno told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Mizan is considering launching another e-book once it is sure
\nthe public like such books. But for now it will concentrate on
\nthe second part of the first e-book. The first part which has
\nalready been released was only the first 90 pages of a total of
\n200 pages. The rest will be completed in a week or two.<\/p>\n
Gangsar said the launching of the e-book aimed only at
\nencouraging the establishment of an e-book reader community
\nrather than seeking profit.<\/p>\n
\"It has no commercial interest. It's purely an idealistic
\nproject,\" Gangsar said.<\/p>\n
Mizan has spent Rp 10 million (almost US$1,000) for the first
\ne-book, including the translation fee.<\/p>\n
If you are interested in reading the book, you can just
\ndownload it from www.ekuator.com. It's all free of charge.<\/p>\n
Ekuator Indonesian book gallery is a local online bookstore
\nwhich provides books at discounted prices and information on new
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
In the future downloading an e-book here may no longer be free
\nof charge. \"In the future we may ask readers to compensate us for
\nthe advertising costs,\" Gangsar said.<\/p>\n
On the Internet, readers might be asked to pay US$1 to read a
\nnovel authored by Stephen King, for example. Or the publishers
\nmay put some advertisements in the e-book pages.<\/p>\n
Could e-books really compete with printed books (p-books) in
\nthe future? Mizan has already anticipated the possibility.<\/p>\n
\"The e-books have their own 'community' and so do p-books.
\nIt's like television stations which can never kill radio
\nstations,\" Gangsar said.<\/p>\n
One criteria of an e-book, according to Gangsar is that it
\nshould be light and easy reading.<\/p>\n
If you have a personal digital assistant (PDA), reading an e-
\nbook would be easier because the content can be copied onto it
\nand you can read it wherever or whenever you like.<\/p>\n
Book on Khomeini<\/p>\n
Why has Mizan chosen the book on Khomeini for its first e-
\nbook?<\/p>\n
Gangsar said the book, which was first published in Iran in
\n1992, met the main criteria: light. But some (Muslim) people who
\nhave read it say the book is weighty and they say its e-version
\nis just as weighty.<\/p>\n
Yamani, the editor and translator of the book who currently
\nstudies philosophy at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta,
\ninsists that the e-book is light and enjoyable.<\/p>\n
The e-book shows the picture of Khomeini on the first page.<\/p>\n
In its introduction (60 pages), the book discusses the history
\nof the late Iranian spiritual leader who overthrew King Mohamad
\nReza Pahlevi in a revolution in 1981.<\/p>\n
The e-book which is written in poetic language mostly contains
\nKhomeini's philosophical thought in the form of advice to his son
\nAhmad to learn and obey the Koran.<\/p>\n
The choice of Khomeini triggers suspicion that Mizan is trying
\nto promote a Syiite denomination of Islam in Indonesia, whose
\npeople are predominantly Sunni.<\/p>\n
Gangsar denied the allegation. \"We have not published books
\nabout Iran since in the middle of the 1990's,\" he said explaining
\nthe reason for the choice.<\/p>\n
Mizan has published translations of books by or about Iran's
\nintellectuals, such as Murtadlo Muntahari, Ali Syariati as well
\nas books of general interest.<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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