About Us

Founded on August 15, 2020—India’s Independence Day—Booksthakam, a traditional publishing house, was born from the collective vision of seven prominent writers and brought to life by philanthropist and book publicist Ashvin Raj, widely known among authors as The One Dollar Instructor. The idea was simple yet profound: to build an ecosystem that supports debut authors and empowers writers to find their voice. What began as a mission to guide Indian English writers quickly evolved into a global movement.

    Booksthakam’s rise to international prominence was marked by the phenomenal success of Joshua Bejoy, who became India’s youngest bestselling author at the age of 11. His achievement, endorsed by Amazon’s Global Vice President, transformed Booksthakam into a publishing sensation across 16 countries. Joshua’s milestone was not just a personal triumph—it was a turning point for the house itself, proving that debut authors could command global attention.

     Following Joshua’s path, Shalaka Sanju, at just nine years old, became India’s youngest self-help author. Aysha Afreen’s book series introduced original theme music, a first in Indian publishing history. These breakthroughs cemented Booksthakam’s reputation as a house that doesn’t just publish books—it creates cultural moments.

      Today, Booksthakam operates with five distinct imprints and three sister concerns, each offering specialized services. One sister concern achieved the rare milestone of becoming India’s only publishing house to offer lifetime publishing deals.

    Booksthakam is India’s only English-language publishing house that publishes in all formats—eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook—even for first-time authors. With a single contract, authors gain global distribution across 16 countries. The launch of Booksthakam U.S. and Booksthakam U.K. is not a dream but a reality, with respective country heads working to secure international awards and recognition for Indian authors abroad.

      A historic milestone was the adaptation of the acclaimed Malayalam film Roy into an English novel, co-authored by director Sunil Ibrahim and author Deepthi L. It became the first Malayalam movie to be transformed into an English-language novel and published worldwide. The novel gained such cultural significance that it was featured in competitive exams.

    Another literary icon was born—author Rohit Ramchandran—with his third novel becoming a bestseller under Booksthakam. His work is now being adapted into a board game by a game publisher. His latest release, Mad Dreams, launched during Booksthakam’s fifth anniversary, made history as India’s first novel with a full refund guarantee—a bold move that stunned the industry and showcased the publisher’s confidence in its authors.

      The name Booksthakam blends Malayalam and English, symbolizing its origin story from Kerala’s cultural richness and India’s literary ambition. The house stands not just for publishing, but for freedom, transparency, and empowerment. Authors are given full access to publishing details, and it has become the only publishing house in India that offers the Founders Call Initiative, which supports even those who are not published under Booksthakam. The company’s owners and well-wishers also operate a public trust (Booksthakam Foundation) that has touched the lives of many young writers and supports the education of tribal students.

      As Booksthakam celebrates its fifth anniversary, it has published over 50 titles and is set to release 50 more within the year, driven by a surge in submissions and the integration of its sister concerns. While the sister concerns also publish the work of celebrated authors, Booksthakam remains the platform for emerging voices, staying true to its founding purpose of turning debut authors into literary celebrities.

  In a landscape dominated by global publishing giants, Booksthakam stands apart—not just with its features, but as a true representative of India itself. With research-driven publishing and an author-first approach, it is redefining what it means to be a literary institution in the modern world.