Annual Subscription Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy May 2021 • Vol 39 No. 5

Contents Author-Illustrator Workshop at Gangtok Author-Illustrator Workshop at Gangtok 1-2 NBT Participates at Amritsar Sahit Utsav 2 Bodo Children’s Writers and Illustrators Workshop 3 NBT as Knowledge Partner 4 Tamil Translation Workshop 4 Bilingual Books for Children 5 Role and Contribution of Thematic Book Exhibitions 6 There is a need to bring out age- young readers in their own mother tongue. “appropriate books to nurture reading In his address, Shri Yuvraj Malik, Discussion on Braille Books habit among children and young readers,” Director, NBT spoke about the importance in Mother Tongue said Shri Bhim Thatal, State Project of NEP 2020 and the role of NBT in 6 Director, Sikkim, at the inauguration promoting books in Indian languages and Excerpts from ‘Tagore: A Life’ of Author-Illustrator workshop held at the habit of reading across the country. 7 Gangtok, Sikkim from 23 to 26 March Urging the young readers to read more 2021. and more books, Shri Malik said, “One Pick of the Month Shri Thatal added that the newly book, one day will change your life, it will drafted National Education Policy 2020 change your entire perspective about life.” focuses on the mother tongue as the Shri SR Subba, President, Sikkim medium of education and there is a need Akademi appreciated NBT’s efforts to to bring out more reading material for the promote Nepali language, literature and

The Flower and the Bee Ashok Davar 978-81-237-9638-3; Rs 55 MAY 2021 NBT NEWSLETTER 1 its cultural heritage. Guha, Diwakar Lamichaney, Sagar Prof. Rudra Poudayal, President, Subba, Deepa Rai, Dhiraj Pradhan, Budhi Nepali Sahitya Parishad also spoke on the Kr Subba, Debashis Saha, Kalicharan occasion. Hembram, and Debabrata Ghosh During the workshop around 40 participated in the workshop. books were developed including silent The workshop was organised by NBT books, picture books and story books in in collaboration with Sikkim Akademi, Nepali language as well as in bilingual Culture Department at Sir Tashi Namygal format (Nepali-Bangla & Nepali-English). Senior Secondary School. Addressing a large gathering at the The Trust is working towards the valedictory function of the workshop, promotion of Nepali language and Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman, how it is needed to get in touch with one’s literature through its various activities NBT, spoke of the role of children’s roots. He was hopeful that the workshop like publishing quality books in Nepali, literatrue in the society. He said, would help in creating content enriched promoting young Nepali authors, “Children’s literature is the backbone of all with the region’s culture and ethos. organising literary programmes and civilizations and hence, should be given Well-known authors and illustrators bringing out translations, bilingual books. paramount importance.” including Arjun Rai ‘Yava’, Pravin So far, the Trust has published over 30 Prof. Sharma further talked about Rai ‘Jumeli’, Dr Kavita Lama, Meena books in Nepali language. the importance of ’s rich cultural Subba, Tulshi Ghimirey, Anathbandhu The programme was coordinated by heritage, its reflection on literature and Chatterjee, Dipanwita Roy, Dr Swati Shri Bratin Dey, Bangla Editor, NBT.

NBT Participates at Amritsar Sahit Utsav ational Book Trust, India Head, Department of Punjabi, Nparticipated at the Amritsar Khalsa College were also present on Sahit Utsav organsied by Khalsa the occasion. College, Amritsar from 2 to 5 March During the festival, the Trust 2021. organised several programmes Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, including panel discussions on Life NBT was the special guest at the and Works of Guru Teg Bahadur; NEP inauguration of the festival. He 2020 and Importance of Regional spoke about the NEP 2020 and the Languages; and Guru Teg Bahadur: importance of mother tongue as a In the Eyes of Historians. Noted medium of instruction. He also talked scholars, authors and academicians about the Prime Minister’s Mentorship including Dr Amarjeet Singh Grewal, Programme which focuses on providing Dr S P Singh, Dr Ramandeep Kaur, Dr training to young writers and promote Amanpreet Singh, Prof. Kanwaljeet Singh, their writings. Dr Ramendra Kaur, Dr Jaspal Kaur Kang, Dr , well-known author Prof. Yograj Angreesh and Dr Jagjeevan was the chief guest on the occasion. The Singh participated in these programmes. session was presided over by S. Rajender The Trust also organized Punjabi Advisory Mohan Singh Chhina, Secretary, Khalsa Panel Meeting on the occasion. College. Dr Mehal Singh, Principal, The programme was coordinated by Khalsa College and Dr Atam Randhawa, Ms Navjot Kaur, Punjabi Editor, NBT.

2 NBT NEWSLETTER MAY 2021 Bodo Children’s Writers and Illustrators Workshop NBT’s efforts to build a corpus “of children’s literature in Bodo language is laudable,” said Dr Dinanath Basumatary, former Director, CUDC, Bodoland University. He was speaking at the inauguration of the three day Bodo children’s writers and illustrators workshop. He was happy to note that NBT is the implementing agency of the Prime Minister’s mentorship programme to nurture young writers and felt that this would help talented youth to flower as good writers. “There is a large untapped crop Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kanta Brahma, Ananda Ram Wary, Arun of talented young aspiring writers and Rajen Basumatary, publisher, Editor and Ch. Mashahary, Rajen Basumatary, Mira illustrators in the Bodo community,” said president of Bodo Writers’ Academy said Brahma, Sadananda Daimary, Lakhiram Dr Birhas Giri Basumatary, Principal, that for the last many years they have been Basumatary, Sapan Kumar Basumatary, Bijni College. Workshops like the one collaborating with NBT to bring out a and Sansumai Khangri Basumatary. now being organised by NBT here at series of interesting books for children. The illustrators who participated in the Bijni could go a long way in realising this While the thrust was on publishing workshop include Chhakhlum Boro, potential he added. translations of NBT’s books into Bodo, Bibungsar Brahma, Hardwrrsa Goyari, Addressing the guests Shri Maneswar this year the focus is on publishing original Lakhen Brahma, Mohit Basumatary, Brahma, well known artist and Lalit Kala books in Bodo written by Bodo writers Gwhwm Boro, Jimmy Mushahary and Akademi Awardee, said that by bringing and illustrated by Bodo artists. Ten books Danswrang Narzary. The writers and together writers and illustrators from are slated to be published through this illustrators were guided by resource the region the books thus produced will workshop. persons who include Shri Mangal Singh not only impart a local flavour to the Writers who participated in the Hazowary, Sahitya Akademi awarded publications but also showcase a society workshop include Umesh Brahma, Baruah writer, Shri Rakhao Basumatary, eminent and its unique culture. writer, and Dr Dipali Kherkhary, writer Dr Mangal Singh Hazowary, eminent and principal of GB College, Howli. writer and Sahitya Akademi Awardee The workshop was organised by spoke on the importance of providing good NBT in association with Bodo Writers’ reading material for children especially Academy from 18 to 20 March 2021 at the in their mother tongue. A Padmashree Auditorium of Engkhong Publications, honoured scholar, Dr Hazowary has been a Bijni, Bodoland, . mentor and guide for the many workshops The programme was coordinated by that NBT organises for publishing books Shri Benny Kurian, English Editor, NBT. in Bodo.

MAY 2021 NBT NEWSLETTER 3 NBT as Knowledge Partner

- Quacquarelli Symonds Middle East, South Asia & North Africa; Shri Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner & Head, Education and Skill Development Practice - KPMG, India; Shri Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Senior Head - Digital Skills, Innovation, Partnership & CSR – NSDC; and Shri Amarendra Pani, Joint Director - Research, Association of Indian Universities. They also discussed @ Education Leaders’ Summit the rapidly changing education scenarios to the audience. NBT had provided of ational Book Trust, India was the around us and how necessary steps should some of its popular books in English, NKnowledge Partner for the Education be taken to overcome the challenges we Hindi and Asamiya for the children Leaders’ Summit organized on 20 March face as a nation. to read and take home with them. The 2021 by Manav Rachna Educational All the speakers at the summit were Open Mic encouraged young children to Institutions and ASSOCHAM. The felicitated with books by NBT. The read as many books as possible to help Summit brought together the principals Mobile Exhibition Van was also present at them develop literary skills early on in from schools of Delhi NCR, policymakers, the event for the participants and speakers life. and institution heads for unlocking the to browse and purchase NBT books. NBT awarded books to all the transformation of India’s education sector. children who participated in the reading They discussed strategies and best @ Open Mic Story Reading Session session. practices to catalyse India’s transformation n the occasion of International into one of the top 10 innovation-led OChildren’s Book Day, an Open Mic countries of the world. Speakers included Story Reading Session was organized by Shri Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, CBSE; Mini Clubhouse in Guwahati, Assam. Dr V S Chauhan, Executive The National Book Trust, India was the Chairman, NAAC; Dr Prashant Bhalla, Knowledge Partner at the event. Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Children aged 4-16 years as well as Council on Education and President, some popular authors and poets from the Manav Rachna Educational Institutions; region participated the event. They read Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Regional Director out excerpts from their favourite books Tamil Translation Workshop ational Book Trust, India The translators who participated Norganized a two-day Translation in the workshop included A.S. Workshop at Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Ilangovan, Kamalaalayan, Saravanan Nadu on 27-28 March 2021. Parthasarathy, R. Shahjahan, Ramu, Inaugurating the workshop, Suhana, Valliyappan, Jayashree, Smt Jayashree, Sahitya Akademi Chandramohan and Anarkali. awardee for translation, spoke about About 20 books for children, the importance of translations in originally published by NBT were strengthening ties between different translated into Tamil during the cultures. She also shared some of her workshop. These include: Birds and experiences as a translator. Speaking Animals in Indian Art, Our Home on the occasion, Shri A.S. Ilangovan, Our Hearth, A Helping Hand, The poet and translator, appreciated NBT’s books. This, in their experiences, requires Royal Sweeper, The Cactus, All Time Stories efforts toward holding such workshops. special efforts as the translator has to for Children, Fly High in the Sky, Clever On the occasion, the translators also ensure its comprehension and the text Mouse and The Ascetic. shared their views on various aspects of should be simple and crisp, for the target Shri T. Mathan Raj, Tamil Editor, translation, particularly on children’s age-group. NBT coordinated the workshop.

4 NBT NEWSLETTER MAY 2021 Bilingual Books for Children India is a land of several languages Ms Neera Jain, Chief Editor & Joint “and dialects. Therefore, bringing Editor, NBT said, “We have been out bilingual books is a huge publishing translations of our books challenge,” said Prof. Govind for children. So far we have translated Prasad Sharma, Chairman, NBT books in 58 languages which has while chairing a panel discussion been quite a challenging experience. on ‘Bilingual Books for Children: Bringing out bilingual books for Dynamics on Teaching Languages children can be even more challenging at Primary Stage – Indian and because you are integrating one text Global Perspectives.’ The panel into two languages which has to discussion was held on 6 March 2021 match with the illustrations also. She during the virtual edition of the New added that in India we have around Delhi World Book Fair 2021. 1900 languages and dialects. It is Speaking of the importance of quite challenging for us to select the dialects and preserving them, Prof. languages for bilingual books.” Sharma said that there are dialects “A language does not only which do not have good literature, give you literacy, it also gives you but if they are neglected, they will emotions, bonding, values and soon become extinct. It will be a great morals,” said Shri Yuvraj Malik, tragedy, if a language or a dialect becomes that all the languages have been given Director, NBT. However, he added that extinct. It is necessary to preserve them equal importance. the values and knowledge systems can only and enrich them with good literature. During the discussion, Ms Fatima be instilled through mother tongue. He He added that dialects have their Abbas, literary agent said that bilingual further said that a child may understand in limited geographical boundary, if the books especially for children are one language and we need to do linguistic people of that particular region wish important. They help in building language pairing to help the child correlate with to go beyond their territory; they may skills. Once children start going to the another language. He said that the new need to be familiar with a regional or school, they are ready to read, write and education policy has come up with new a national language. There is a need to learn in both languages. These books also flavor and emphasizes on mother tongue. provide them bilingual books. Therefore, improve their vocabulary. She added that Keeping in view of these reforms, NBT is NEP 2020 has laid greater emphasis on bilingual books help them to accept and bringing out books which are interactive, regional languages, which will also help in learn from other’s culture. She further said quality based, affordable with a sense of preserving different culture and traditions that bilingual books help in the social and accountability.The speakers also discussed and save the languages from extinction. emotional development of the children. about bringing out bilingual books in Highlighting the advantages of Talking about the challenges of different foreign languages. bilingual books, Mr Lawrence Schimel, bringing out bilingual books as per the The session was moderated by Shri noted author and translator said, “Very requirement of our multilingual society, Kumar Vikram, Editor, NBT. often bilingual books are useful for families where one generation speaks or does not speak a common language. Bilingual books allow different generations to share same story in their own language.” While bringing out the challenges in presentation of text in bilingual books, Mr Schimel said hat some of the languages have the same alphabet or are written in roman text. The bilingual book should be presented in a way that helps reader identify the language, for instance by printing both the languages in different colors. He also appreciated the presentation style of bilingual books recently published by National Book Trust, India. He remarked

MAY 2021 NBT NEWSLETTER 5 Role and Contribution of Thematic Book Exhibitions

hematic book exhibitions Mr Santiago Sanchez, Head, Thave an important role to Culture and Education Attache, play not only for booklovers but Embassy of Mexico, New Delhi also for publishers. They help said within the book fairs several publishers to develop new content, programmes are organized, which look for new prospects and are diverse. He added that thematic business opportunities. A panel book exhibitions can further discussion on the topic ‘Role and enhance this diversity. He also said Contribution of Thematic Book that thematic exhibitions present Exhibitions in Promotion of Content and translations of books from Indian to new interpretations and improves the Ideas’ was held virtually on 8 March 2021. foreign countries and vice versa. editorial inputs. The panelists on the occasion were “Who are the audience, what are they According to Mr Yuvraj Malik, Mr Ramesh K Mittal, former Chairman, looking for, how do we engage them, are Director, NBT, “Thematic exhibition is CAPEXIL and President, FIP; Ms some of the questions that arise while the future.” However, he added that it Tanishka Kachru, Senior Faculty, NID, designing thematic exhibitions,” said Ms also requires extra efforts and research. Ahmedabad; Mr Simon De Jocas, Tanishka Kachru. She was of the view that Discussing on the impact of thematic President, Quebec Education Committee, this challenge requires multidimensional exhibitions, Mr Malik cited the example Canada; and Mr Yuvraj Malik, Director, approach and needs extensive research of 150 years of Gandhi as the theme NBT. The session was moderated by Mr into the theme to create connection with of the last edition of New Delhi World Kumar Vikram, Editor, NBT. the people of all age groups. She further Book Fair, and said that we showcased “Thematic book fairs help publishers said that the presentation should be in literature, content, chronology at the improve their publishing skills,” said Mr such a manner that the theme brings out Theme pavilion. The maximum time that Ramesh K Mittal. He added that the book new interpretations and new nuances. visitors spent was in the theme pavilion fairs provide publishers an opportunity Speaking of the opportunities such and the maximum queries were on the to showcase their books on the topic and exhibitions provide to the exhibitors, Mr theme. He also remarked that NBT will encourage them to write something new. Simon De Jocas said that one thing which be organizing many thematic exhibitions He added that India’s Guest of Honour is common is books and what we have to mark 125th Birth Anniversary of at various international book fairs, has to do is business. He added that through Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and will provided many business opportunities books we can enrich the world with our bring many publishers together under one including copyright arrangements, knowledge. umbrella. Discussion on Braille Books in Mother Tongue

If you visit any state of our country, the second session, the poets and students “you will hardly find Braille textbooks from AICB rendered poetry based on in mother tongue,” said Shri J L Kaul, ‘Patriotism.’ The participants included Secretary, All India Confederation of the Ms Sushila Negi, Shri Rajnish Rajat, Shri Blind (AICB), at a discussion on the topic Anurag Pathak, Ms Devki, Ms Abhilasha, ‘Mother Tongue and Braille Books’ held at Shri Ankur and Shri Pawan Kumar. Braille AICB Auditorium, New Delhi on 8 March books were also presented. 2021. He further added that though some Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, of the textbooks have been published by created to overcome technical problems. expressed his happiness at the rendition NCERT, they are also not easily available He also added that there is always a scarcity of patriotic poetry by the participants. for students. of paper, which also makes the printing of He remarked that through the medium Speaking of the challenges in the Braille books difficult. of Braille books, we can help the visually publication of Braille books, Shri J L Kaul Appreciating NBT for its continuous impaired to feel the world around them and said that most of the printing machines efforts in bringing out books in Braille empower them. He also thanked AICB for for Braille books are imported from other in different Indian languages, Shri J L their collaboration in publication of books countries and in the wake of technical Kaul said that many of these books are and organising programmes. snags, the printing of books are delayed. being distributed free of cost to various The programme was moderated by Dr He urged that a panel of engineers may be schools, universities and libraries. During Kamlesh Kumari, Hindi Editor, NBT.

6 NBT NEWSLETTER MAY 2021 Excerpts from ‘Tagore: A Life’

Every year 7 May is celebrated as Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti. The Trust has published many works both on and by Tagore. Herein we reproduce excerpts from the chapter “Encounter with the West” in the book Tagore: A Life, authored by Krishna Kripalani.

eanwhile the intelligentsia of state of health. But, believe me, I did not God, were over. Five days later he wrote MBengal tried to make amends for undertake this task in a spirit of reckless to Rothenstein: “The perfect whirlwind their past neglect of their greatest poet by bravado. I simply felt an urge to recapture of public excitement it has given rise to is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of his through the medium of another language frightful. It is almost as bad as tying a tin birth on 28 January 1912 in the Town the feelings and sentiments which had can at a dog’s tail making it impossible for Hall of Calcutta, under the auspices of created such a feast of joy within me in the him to move without creating noise and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, the leading days gone by. The pages of a small exercise- collecting crowds all along. I am being literary society of Bengal. Tagore was book came to be filled gradually, and with smothered with telegrams and letters for due to sail from Calcutta on 19 March, it in my pocket I boarded the ship.” the last few days and the people who never but suddenly fell ill on the night before … had any friendly feelings towards me nor his departure and the doctors forbade an In September he sailed for India, ever read a line of my works are loudest immediate voyage. His luggage, already on having achieved both fame and health. It in their protestations of joy. I cannot tell board, had to be sent back from Madras was while he was in Santiniketan that the you how tired I am of all this shouting, the where the ship halted next. Disappointed news came, on 13 November of the award stupendous amount of its unreality being at this unforeseen postponement of of the Nobel Prize for his Gitanjali. The something appalling. Really these people his voyage, he sought consolation and news was received with no small surprise honour the honour in me and not myself.” strength, as of old, by retiring to Shelidah and much rejoicing all over the country. The thought rankled in his mind and on the banks of his beloved river Padma. It In the little asrama at Santiniketan the the patriot in him found it humiliating was here that he began to translate, for the children, who hardly knew what the Nobel that the majority of his countrymen had first time, some of his Gitanjali songs into Prize was but understood that their beloved needed the stimulus of foreign recognition English. But let him tell the story in his Gurudev (teacher) had been honoured by to turn their grudging appreciation of his own words, although his own words were the world, went wild with joy. What did service to their language and literature into in Bengali and the excerpt quoted below is the poet himself feel? No doubt, he felt adulation. This sad and bitter thought found an English rendering: elated and proud and happy — and above public expression on 23 November when “You have alluded to the English all justified. He would not have been a large deputation of 500 distinguished translation of Gitanjali,” he wrote to his human if he felt otherwise. The patriot in citizens of Calcutta representing diverse niece Indira from London. “I cannot him felt happy, too, that his country’s name professions and interests came by a special imagine to this day how people came had been put on the world’s literary map train to Santiniketan to offer him the to like it so much. That I cannot write and felt proud that he was the reason of it. nation’s felicitations. In blunt but poetic English is such a patent fact that I never But the poet in him was too sensitive not words the poet told them that he could had even the vanity to feel ashamed of it. to feel a misgiving that his days of peace, not accept a homage that was so unreal. If anybody wrote an English note asking of quiet and uninterrupted pursuit of his Those among his audience who had always me to tea, I did not feel equal to answering vocation as a poet and as a teacher of little been his warm admirers understood for it. Perhaps you think that by now I have children, of intimate whisperings with his whom the snub was meant; the rest, thus got over that delusion. By no means. That deflated, never forgave him for what they I have written in English seems to be the considered his “inhospitable reply.” delusion. On the day I was to board the Though the Prize was awarded on the ship, I fainted due to my frantic efforts merits of an individual work whose poetic at leave-taking and the journey itself excellence and high idealism were almost was postponed. Then I went to Shelidah universally acknowledged, the fact that it to take rest. But unless the brain is fully was given to an Asian invested the award active, one does not feel strong enough to with a significance which such awards do relax completely; so the only way to keep not normally have and made it look almost myself calm was to take up some light like a unique phenomenon. It was received work… everywhere with a shock of surprise and So I took up the poems of Gitanjali Tagore: A Life turned Rabindranath from an individual and set myself to translate them one by Krishna Kripalani into a symbol — a symbol of the West’s one. You may wonder why such a crazy Rs. 155; 280 pp grudging recognition of Asia’s submerged ambition should possess one in such a weak ISBN 978-81-237-1959-7 potential and its imminent resurgence.

MAY 2021 NBT NEWSLETTER 7 Pustak Sanskriti RNI-39456/82 Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-01/4076/21-23 A quarterly literary magazine in Hindi. Licenced to post without prepayment. For subscription and submission of write-ups, articles L.No. U(SW)-21/2021-23 Contact: Editor, Pustak Sanskriti Mailing date: 5/6 Same Month National Book Trust, India, Nehru Bhawan Date of Publication: 01/05/2021 5 Institutional Area, Phase II Posted at LPC, Delhi RMS, Delhi-110006 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110070 Email: [email protected]

NBT organised mobile book exhibition in Uttar Pradesh from 13 March to 6 April 2021. The vans travelled across various districts, Shri Shivanand Tiwari, former Member of Parliament, Rajya towns and rural areas including Varanasi, Mau, Gorakhpur, Basti, Sabha, visited NBT Book Promotion Centre in Patna and Ayodhya, Sultanpur and Lucknow. browsed through NBT books.

NBT Newsletter is the house magazine of the National On India Government Service Book Trust, India — an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, Government of India.

The views expressed in the signed articles do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Trust.

Editor: Binny Kurian Editorial Associate: Surekha Sachdeva Production Officer: Narender Kumar

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8 NBT NEWSLETTER MAY 2021