David Davidar

David Davidar recalls the advice once given to him by the writer R.K. Narayan about publishing books in India. "Don’t worry, you’ll be gone in a few years," Mr. Narayan warned. "There aren’t enough writers here." Imagine that: An India lacking in writers. Mr. Narayan made his prediction more than 25 years ago, when Mr. Davidar was part of the team that launched Penguin India, now an industry leader. Mr. Davidar did leave for several years but has since returned to India to start a new imprint, Aleph. With the printed word considered an endangered species in much of

The draperies are drawn at David Davidar’s home. Inside, wearing a white dress shirt tucked into belted black slacks, the former president of Penguin Canada is busy managing a scandal consuming the Canadian publishing industry. And he’s at its centre.