NBT newsletter ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy Volume 28 No. 4 July 2012 Contents SHIMLA BOOK FAIR NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR 2 TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL 3 BOOK FAIR FESTIVAL OF children’s CONTENT 3 AHMEDABAD BOOK FAIR 4 SRINAGAR BOOK FAIR 5 six-day long Book Fair was organised exhibitions and fairs, taking books to ORIENTATION PROGRAMMES 6 A in Shimla at the Indira Gandhi Khel the remote areas of the country, holding Parisar, Mall Road from 12 to 17 May workshops, and other literary activities. EXCERPTS 7 2012. Organised by the National Book Shri Sikandar also added that it was in Trust, India, the Fair was inaugurated by the year 2001 that the first book fair was the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal held in Shimla. Things have improved a BOOKS RECEIVED 7 Pradesh, Shri Prem Kumar Dhumal. Prof. lot since then. Peter Ronald DeSouza, Director, Indian After the formal inauguration, Shri Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla was Dhumal visited NBT stall and browsed the Guest of Honour at the function. PICK OF THE MONTH through the books. Inaugurating the Fair, Shri Dhumal The Shimla Book Fair saw the observed, “Literature has a great impact participation of over 50 publishers and on every person’s life. Literature gives us distributors from across the country the knowledge of history and also provides exhibiting books in English and Hindi on the reader an insight into the writer’s experience, so that the reader can improve his life and learn things.” In his welcome address, Shri M. A. Sikandar, Director, NBT, India spoke about the various activities of National Book Trust, India besides publishing. He also informed the audience about NBT’s mandate to promote book Magic Island reading in the country, and Zai Whitaker the efforts involved therein ISBN 978-81-237-6500-2; Rs 110 which included holding book varied subjects. People from all walks of programme at the Sahitya Chaupal had a life were seen at the Fair grounds during number of young and old alike interacting those six days. with the writer, Shri Manglesh Dabral and A three-day ‘Sahitya Chaupal’ the illustrator, Shri Vijay Sharma. The programme was a major attraction during programme was coordinated by Dr Tulsi the Fair. Shri Sikandar informed people Raman, Secretary, Himachal Academy of that many literary programmes would Art, Culture and Language. be held in the Chaupal. The first of the The programmes and Fair were Chaupal programmes was a seminar on coordinated by Shri Pradip Chhabra, ‘Translation’ where well known translators Deputy Director (Exhibitions) and talked at length about the proper techniques Shri Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor, of translating fiction and non-fiction. had a seminar on ‘Storytelling’. On the National Centre for Children’s Literature, Second day of the Chaupal programme third day, a meet-the-author and illustrator a wing of NBT. NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR he 11th Nigeria book industry if major players TInternational Book Fair think outside of the box and (NIBF) 2012 was held from see the current challenges as 7 to 12 May at the Multi- surmountable. purpose halls of the University The stall of the of Lagos, Nigeria. Organised National Book Trust, India, by the Nigerian Book Fair being the nodal agency for Trust Fund, the Fair aimed book promotion under at the country’s mission to Government of India, was promote reading culture of utmost interest for the and bring books and other visitors. The NBT stall instructional materials closer showcased more than 200 to people for better education titles from India in English and self-improvement. as well as in Hindi. Interested NIBF provides a platform in knowing more about the to network in the book and Indian culture, the NBT stall publishing sector with direct to discuss topical issues that bother on was thronged by young and contact with major players in the industry the stability of the industry. This year old alike. Ms Rani Malik, First Secretary from within and outside the country. It is the conference was held at Afe Babalola at the Indian Embassy at Nigeria, also also an avenue for schools and students to Auditorium, University of Lagos, and visited the stall, besides Samuel Kolawole, meet their educational needs under one the theme this year was ‘The State of Chairman of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust roof. Infrastructural Development in Africa and Fund and its Executive Secretary, Abiodun Over 150 publishers, booksellers, the Future of the Book Trade’. Omotubi, media, journalists, authors and distributers from Nigeria and other The speakers at the conference were of and young children. Dr Lalit Kishore parts of the world participated in the Fair, the view that though the book industry is Mandora, Hindi editor, represented the which included exhibitors from India, lacking infrastructural support that should Trust at the Fair. Zimbabwe, Dubai, Ghana, Ibadan, aid its growth, yet there is future for the Other activities that marked Abuja, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, UK, NIBF 2012 included the unveiling and USA. With a wide range of of Prof. Wole Soyinka’s new book, books covering varied subjects, the special education workshop, Fair had lot to offer to the book Children’s programmes and the lovers, students, writers, publishers, NBFT Life Time Achievement children as well as the general Award, which was conferred on public. two eminent people in the book Another major feature of industry, Chief M.O. Akinleye, NIBF was the annual International former Chief Executive Officer of Conference of Nigeria International University Press Plc and foremost Book Fair that brings together librarian, Prof. Felicia Adetoun stakeholders in the book industry Ogunseye. 2 NBT NEWSLETTER JULY 2012 TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR he 25th Tehran International 1500-3000 Toman for purchasing TBook Fair was held from 2-12 books of their choice. May 2012 in Imam Khomeini Grand Indian Ambassador to Iran, HE Prayer Hall, Mosaliah Ground, Iran. Dr. P. Srivastava visited NBT stall The Fair was inaugurated on 1 May and appreciated the efforts of the 2012 by Shri Ahmadinejad, the Trust. “NBT stall is very impressive Hon’ble President of Iran. and a good draw. With our linguistic On the occasion, he wished and cultural links, there is enormous that “Tehran International Book scope for increasing exchange Fair should become a venue for a between the two countries. Indian cultural festival among the nations. books and authors are well liked. This The Book Fair should open the road should encourage NBT to do more for better future of the mankind.” is the container which carries these three in future. I would also appreciate if He expressed his hope on the efforts of elements.” he further said. NBT could bring more publishers from the organisers of this cultural event, which The TIBF is one of the biggest book India to explore opportunities here.” brings together a large number of thinkers, events in the world where many domestic The curtains on the Fair were scholars and artists in order to create a and international publishers participate. drawn at a ceremony attended by Iranian common understanding among them. He Over 2,400 Iranian publishers displayed Vice President Md. Reza Rahimi, Iran’s further added that the human beings will their publications at this year’s Fair along Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance be emancipated when all the boundaries with 1,600 international publishers from Seyyed Md. Hosseini and a number of and fetters are removed and all people love 77 countries, attracting over 5 lakh people cultural officials of Iran on 12 May. each other and become knowledgeable. every day. A large number of students visited Shri Syed Haider M. Rizvi, Manager “The three pillars—science, love and the Fair. This is because all the students (Sales & Marketing), NBT, represented justice—can remove the barriers and book were provided with ATM cards worth the Trust at the Fair. FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’s CONENT n the occasion of the World Book Besides the exhibition of books Oand Copyright Day, the NBT, brought out by more than 50 publishers, India organised a week-long Festival of the Festival included a two-day Creative Children’s Conent at Future Foundation Writing and Illustration Workshop; an School, Regent Park, Kolkata from 23- interactive session with the famous author 28 April 2012. This Festival, organised in Paro Anand; a workshop on how to association with Publishers and Booksellers review a book and a panel discussion on Guild and Future Foundation School Bangla Children’s Literature Today; and a of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture, workshop on Poster Design conducted by Kolkata, was the first of its kind. More Debashis Ghosh and Ms Priya Nagarajan, than 5,000 children and young adults eminent children’s illustrators. from various schools of Kolkata took part moved away from books, we need to help The artworks developed by children in this festival. them reconnect with the magic of creating in the workshop were displayed in an The Festival, along with an exhibition self impressions,” he said. Shri Tridib exhibition at the Galerie La-Mere. Select of books was inaugurated by eminent actor Chatterjee, General Secretary, Publishers’ works were put together in the Readers’ and wildlife photographer Shri Sabyasachi and Booksellers’ Guild, presided over the Club Bulletin published by the Trust. Chakraborty on 23 April function. Shri Ranjan Mitter, 2012. In his inaugural Principal and Ms. Virginia address, Shri Chakraborty Redden, Activity Coordinator spoke about his desire to of the school, Shri Debu write a book for children Sarkar, Dy. Director (Art) to help them bond with the and Shri Manas Ranjan charm of the forests. “I do Mahapatra, Editor, NCCL, not believe that the young coordinated the various generation has entirely sessions at the Festival.