Kolkata, Jan 23 (IANS): Encouraging youngsters to have a good command over language, noted author Ruskin Bond Friday questioned the role of vanity publishers who charge aspirants "large sums of money" to have their books published.

Bond also highlighted the shrinking of the literary platform provided by newspapers and magazines earlier.

"You can reasonably expect you will get something for your work, although when I see the number of vanity publishers that have sprung up and are taking large sums of money from aspiring young kids who want to see their name on a book, I am not sure if they are doing a service to literature," said Bond at the inaugural session of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet at the Victoria Memorial Hall grounds here.

Children and young adults queued up to catch a glimpse of the cherubic Mussoorie-based author who answered all their questions, which centred on some of his cult books like "Room on The Roof", "Night Train At Deoli", the Rusty series, among others.

Talking about the changes in the Indian publishing scene, Bond said he used to write for newspapers and magazines in the 1950s and 60s to make a living as a writer since the industry was in its infancy.

"When I set out as a writer from the 1950s and 1960s, publishing in India was at its infancy. There were very few book publishers around and I wanted to write and I wanted to make a living from writing so I would really write for almost every newspaper and magazine in the land."

"Fortunately the publishing industry has grown and I know publishers who are doing well," he added.

The 80-year-old said newspapers and magazines today offer limited scope to writers.

"In those days newspapers and magazines actually did publish those stories, essays and poetry so a writer did have a platform."

"Now the magazines and the newspapers do not really have a literary platform and if they do it's a limited one, so writers have to look for publishers," Bond said.

Advising youngsters to stress on "writing well and have a good command" over the language they choose to represent themselves in, irrespective of profession, the Padma Bhushan recipient stressed on perseverance and patience to follow a career in writing.

"I would never discourage anyone from writing. I would only say don't be in too much of a hurry to look for fame and fortune."