CAN YOU PLEASE CLEARIFY MR. PHILIP KOTLER???

Information, Information, Everywhere… But not a speck to use!!!

Yes, in this over-communicated world of today, information is in
abundance… yet the one desired by your heart at times is at bay…
I have a case to discuss here!!!
Recently, in the month of August, while preparing my lecture to
teach in a MBA class, I came across a couple of topics in which I
had a small difference of opinion on what was written in a famous
& most read text book across the Globe - The book titled
‘Marketing Management’ by Dr. Philip Kotler.
To get my doubts cleared, I went to the e-book available on the
Net & posted my queries on the format available therein.
However, I got no reply for a week.
Feeling, it may not be the right forum for me to address such
issues, I approached the Publisher ‘Pearson Practice Hall’ to
kindly give me the contact address of Dr. Kotler so that I could
write directly to him. I got a prompt reply albeit a stereotyped
one, which I replicate hereunder verbatim.
Dear Mr. Nigam,

Thanks for contacting Pearson. Unfortunately, due to

privacy policies, we do not release contact information for
our authors or employees. However, please feel free to
email this address with your questions and we will be
happy to forward them to the author. Any response will be
at his discretion. 

Regards,
Kim Kristiansen
Communications Analyst
Corporate Communications
Pearson

Not too happy with the last statement though, I still sent the
details to Mr. Kim without any prejudice. However I got no reply
for a month.
I sent a reminder urging for my answers to which I got this typical
sales reply to parry my query away!!! Strangely, it was not in
response to my reminder but to my earlier mail???
Dear Mr. Nigam,

Thanks for your input. Our editorial team will send it along to the authors
for consideration for the next edition.

Have a good day.

Regards,

Kim Kristiansen
Communications Analyst
Corporate Communications
Pearson

Miffed by this callous attitude of the publisher, I decided to write

to the Indian Co-author of this book Prof. Mithleshwar Jha & I
fortunately got his email ID on the site of IIM Bangalore. And I
did!!!
I sent the mail on 30th September which read –
Dear Prof. Mithleshwar,

I am forwarding few exchanges of mails that I have had with the

Publisher of Dr. Kotler’s Book Marketing Management, 13 th Edition
in which you are the Co-author & provided insightful Asian
Reference to the text therein. 

I find that the Publisher has parried my questions & taken them as
arguments against what has been written in your book, whereas I
am only seeking few clarifications in favor of my students!!!

Since I am unable to get the mail ID of Dr. Kotler, I would be

grateful if you can kindly throw some light on what I have stated in
my letter.

Regards! 

J. Nigam
Its been around a month now, as I sit down to write this column &
till date my mail has not even been acknowledged, leave aside a
reply…
Today, I feel deprived & pushed against the wall with no recourse
left… I am also at a loss to comprehend on how world acclaimed
Authors & Publishing Houses can refrain from providing
information to their readers.
I am flooded with questions for which I have no answers!!! I
wonder why the RTI act only applies to the Government sector or
institutes aided by Government funds??? Information does not
have different colors, caste, creed or cost!!! Then why only
Government should be bound to give information & why should it
be linked with Government funds??? Right to information is a
fundamental right of all Indians!!! & if this be the case how can
Individuals & Private institutes be out of its purview??? Why
giving information not be made mandatory for all under the RTI
act in the same stride, I ask myself??? Why should there be
distinction between Government & non Government??? Ah!!!
I only wish some laws are made in India & Internationally vide
which one can be assured of a reply to the legitimate queries
made to Individuals & the Corporate!!!