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Roli Books

Overview

Roli Books is an Indian publishing house based in New Delhi, established in 1978. It is known for producing illustrated books on Indian art, architecture, photography, history, culture, cuisine, and biography, with a particular focus on high-quality coffee table titles aimed at both domestic and international readerships.

Key facts

Name Roli Books
Type Publishing house
Founded 1978
Headquarters New Delhi, India
Country India
Industry Book publishing

Background

Roli Books emerged in the late 1970s at a time when Indian English-language publishing was dominated by a small number of established houses, and dedicated illustrated publishing on Indian themes was largely produced abroad. The firm positioned itself as a publisher of visually rich titles drawing on Indian heritage, photography, and design, distributed in India and through international partnerships.

Publishing programme

The publisher's catalogue spans several genres typical of an integrated trade and illustrated house:

  • Coffee table books on Indian cities, monuments, textiles, and crafts.
  • Photography monographs and visual histories.
  • Biographies, memoirs, and works on contemporary Indian society.
  • Cookery, lifestyle, and travel titles.
  • Children's and general non-fiction lists through associated imprints.

Roli Books has also been associated with imprints and series that handle narrative non-fiction and trade paperbacks alongside its illustrated mainstay.

Significance

Within the Indian publishing landscape, Roli Books is recognised as one of the more prominent independent houses focused on illustrated and heritage-oriented publishing. Its titles have contributed to the documentation of Indian visual culture, urban history, and traditions, and are frequently stocked by museum shops, heritage sites, and bookstores across the country.

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