A report has raised questions about the authenticity of an English-language book listed in Madurai’s Kalaignar Centenary Library, alleging that a title attributed to economist Jean Drèze may not have been authored by him. The claim, however, remains unverified and is based on a social-media post cited by Dinamalar.
The book identified in the report is titled “DEMOCRACY AND PEOPLES RIGHT IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD”. According to the cited post, it was procured from Phoenix Publishers and carries a valid International Standard Book Number. The post further alleges that the address of Phoenix Publishers is the same as that of Akal Vilakku Publishers.
The report says the disputed title lists Jean Drèze as its author. Drèze is a recognised economist who has worked on issues including poverty, food security and public policy. Dinamalar reports that the social-media post claims he did not write a book with this title. The report does not include a response from Drèze, the publishers, the library administration or the Tamil Nadu government confirming or rejecting the allegation.
The procurement date cited in the report is June 25, 2023, around 20 days before the library was opened. The Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai was inaugurated on July 15, 2023, by the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The report does not provide the purchase order, invoice, catalogue record, publisher’s authorisation, copyright documentation or correspondence with the alleged author.
The allegation has emerged amid a wider controversy over claims that some books acquired for public libraries in Tamil Nadu may be fictitious or improperly sourced. Dinamalar refers to earlier reports concerning alleged irregularities in book procurement at the E.V.R. Knowledge World in Coimbatore and claims that questionable titles have also been found in other libraries. These claims require separate verification and cannot by themselves establish that the Madurai title is unauthorised.
The issue has a direct governance dimension because public-library procurement involves public funds, catalogue integrity and the reliability of information made available to readers. A valid ISBN alone does not establish that a listed author wrote a book, nor does the presence of a title in a library catalogue prove that procurement procedures were followed correctly. Verification would require examination of the purchase file, publisher records, bibliographic databases and, where necessary, confirmation from the named author or rights holder.
The report says demands have emerged for an expert committee to examine the authenticity of English books and e-books held in Tamil Nadu’s libraries. It also refers to a proposed or requested special committee concerning allegedly fake Tamil books. No official order establishing such a statewide review is included in the supplied material.
Until the relevant records and responses are made public, the central allegation concerning the Jean Drèze attribution should be treated as a claim rather than an established finding. The next material steps would be confirmation from the library and procurement authorities, a response from Phoenix Publishers and Akal Vilakku Publishers, and a statement from Drèze or his representatives.
