Fake Books Flood Tamil Nadu Library

Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore has become the center of a controversy over its Tamil section's collection, which reportedly includes numerous inaccurate and potentially AI-generated books. Writer Perumal Murugan brought attention to approximately 1,800 books, primarily from 'Agal Vilakku Pathippagam' in Chennai, raising concerns about their legitimacy and exorbitant pricing.

These books allegedly contain significant factual errors, such as misattributing authors and historical figures. For instance, 'Naladiyar Vaazhvin Vazhikatti' incorrectly identifies Naladiyar as an individual author, while 'Tamil Nadu Oru Paarvai' lists a non-existent chief minister. Many publications feature unfamiliar author names and fake ISBNs, intensifying suspicions of AI authorship.

State school education minister A Rajmohan has expressed dismay and announced a thorough investigation, pointing fingers at the previous DMK administration for the procurement. However, the DMK has refuted these claims, attributing the purchases to the current TVK government. A government order from February 2026, for book procurement from Agal Vilakku Pathippagam, has been cited.

Questions have also surfaced regarding the book selection process. While selection committees, including academics and scholars, were involved, some members claimed a lack of transparency, with one member even protesting the altered selection method for Periyar Arivulagam. The minister has ordered a review of book purchases across other libraries.

The controversy underscores a broader debate on the quality and authenticity of published materials entering public libraries, prompting calls for greater accountability in procurement and selection procedures.