Fake books and inflated prices: Decoding the Periyar Arivulagam procurement row

A library is expected to be a repository of knowledge, but the newly inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore has found itself at the centre of a controversy over books that allegedly contain fabricated information, questionable authorship and even photographs that have little connection with the subjects illustrated in the contents.

The controversy erupted after popular Tamil author Perumal Murugan, who visited the seven-storey library premises at Coimbatore, flagged what he described as serious irregularities in its Tamil book collection. In an article published on his online platform Sindhai, titled '(Periyar) Arivulagathil Periya Oozhal', he questioned the quality, authenticity and pricing of several books procured for the institution.

He questioned how nearly 1,800 books bearing the imprint of Akalvilakku Pathippagam were procured. He also questioned the credentials of the publishing house and identified that more than 100 titles from Phoenix Pathippagam.

The pricing of some publications appeared particularly questionable. Murugan cited Naladiyar Vazhvin Vazhikatti, attributed to an author named Surya Balu. The 300-page book carries a price tag of ₹1,445, while comparable editions of the classical Tamil work Naladiyar are reportedly available for around ₹350.

The concerns go beyond pricing. Murugan alleged that several books carried fictitious author names and questionable ISBN details, while some appeared to contain AI-generated material, incorrect historical references and poorly researched content.

Among the examples he flagged was a book on Madurai Kanchi, which allegedly misidentified the author of the Sangam-era literary work. Another publication reportedly carried a photograph of a Nandi sculpture and described it as an archaeological discovery from Keezhadi. The allegations have raised questions about whether the books underwent any meaningful editorial or academic scrutiny before being purchased.

The controversy has also put the procurement mechanism under scrutiny. According to reports, the government issued an order on November 5, 2025, constituting a 112-member book recommendation committee to identify titles for Periyar Arivulagam and other libraries, with a proposed procurement outlay of ₹50 crore. A subsequent selection meeting was held on January 9, 2026, and purchase orders were issued on February 2. Periyar Arivulagam reportedly received 60,266 books under the exercise.

School Education, Tamil Development and Archaeology Minister Rajmohan has announced an inquiry into the allegations. He said around 1,500 books from Akalvilakku Pathippagam were purchased in February under the previous DMK government, and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in a long social media post turned the controversy into a political attack on the previous regime, questioning how a library built with public money could become the centre of alleged corruption.

The DMK, however, has pushed back, claiming that book procurement under its government was transparent. It has questioned the timing of the purchases, pointing out that some of the allegedly fake books carried June 2026 publication stamps, while other books in the same library bore March 2026 stamps.

This has raised questions about when the disputed books actually entered the collection and under whose administration, as statements from Rajmohan and Vijay had concluded that the DMK was to blame for the procurement even before an inquiry could be conducted.

The controversy has also drawn demands for an independent investigation. The CPI(M) has sought a special investigation team and a panel of Tamil scholars to examine the books, identify questionable publications and establish responsibility for the procurement.

However, at the heart of the controversy are questions that the government cannot answer through political accusations alone and requires proper investigation.

Who recommended these titles? Who verified the publishers and authors? Were ISBN numbers checked? Who approved the prices and certified the books before payment?

The ₹300-crore Periyar Arivulagam, inaugurated by CM Vijay on October 16, was envisioned as a major knowledge centre for students, researchers and the public by the previous DMK regime. Its credibility cannot rest on its imposing seven-storey structure or the number of books stacked on its shelves.

If the allegations are established, the damage would extend beyond financial irregularities. A public library that stocks fabricated histories and unreliable information risks misleading the very generation it is meant to educate.

The government apparently has the responsibility to establish not merely who bought the books, but who allowed them to pass as knowledge.