Annual Subscription Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy December 2018 • Vol 36 No. 12

Contents Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah International Book Fair 1-2 Sharjah: Guest of Honour @ NDWBF 2019 2 National Education Day Celebrations 3 Books on Energy and Environment 5 Excerpts: Warp and Weft 6 ational Book Trust, India were also present on the occasion. Excerpts: Many Autumns Nparticipated in the 37th edition of The theme of the Fair was ‘Tale of 7 Sharjah International Book Fair held at Letters’. Over 470 authors, poets and Mobile Book Exhibitions in Expo Centre Sharjah, from October 31 to artists from 19 countries participated 10 November 2018. in the literary and cultural programmes Maharashtra 8 His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin including celebrity author talks, seminars, Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the book signings, and storytelling and Pick of the Month Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah theatre held during the Fair. Over 1800 inaugurated the Fair. HE Ahmed Al Ameri, publishers from 77 countries participated Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority in the Fair who displayed over 1.6 million and His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin titles, of which 80,000 titles were displayed Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the at the Fair for the first time. Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah This year Japan was the Guest of

A Kite’s Story Sukanya Datta 978-81-237-8710-7 Rs 155 DECEMBER 2018 NBT NEWSLETTER 1 Honour and Azzeldine Mihoubi, Algeria’s India’s National Movement. NBT books Minister of Culture, was the Cultural on Gandhiji like Bapu by F.C. Freitas, Personality of the Year. More than 100 What is Hinduism by Gandhiji, Gandhi: literary activities, lectures and workshops The Writer by Bhabani Bhattacharya, were organized at the Guest of Honour Gandhi: A Life by Krishna Kriplani, pavilion in which 13 award-winning Gandhiji and His Disciples by Jayant Japanese authors and artists participated. Pandya were among the 30 books that Cultural programmes including Japanese were part of special Exhibit. classic and , Samurai show Besides, National Book Trust, India as well as book signing ceremonies by a was the facilitator to the participation number of Japanese writers and literary of 25 Indian publishers at the Sharjah figures were also organised. International Book Fair. Shri Navdeep The three-day SIBF Publishers Suri, Hon’ble Ambassador of India to UAE, Conference was held which engaged 486 visited the NBT stall. NBT’s participation publishers in various panel discussions, participated with a Collective Exhibit of at this year’s Fair had a special dimension and 3,000 matchmaking meetings. nearly 300 titles of 35 Indian publishers too. Sharjah is the Guest of Honour at the Besides, several workshops for children in Hindi, English, Urdu, Malayalam New Delhi World Book Fair (5-13 January were also organized. and Tamil languages. To commemorate 2019) being organised by the Trust. The This year’s guests at the SIBF the 150 years’ celebrations of Mahatma NBT delegation had a wide ranging 2018 included British writers James E. Gandhi’s birth anniversary, a major focus meeting on various issues with Hon’ble Montgomery, Bruce Parry and Emma of the Exhibit was books on and by Al-Amiri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Gannon; American authors Dr Leonard Mahatma Gandhi as well his associates in Authority and his team. National Book Mlodinow, James W. Parkinson and A.J. Trust, India delegation also had a meeting Finn as well as Canadian YouTuber, Lilly with Ms. Smita Pant, Deputy Chief of Singh. Indian writers and celebrities Mission, Embassy of India, UAE and Mr including Soha Ali Khan, noted actor; Kapil Raj, Second Secretary, Embassy of Ranveer Brar, Indian Chef, TV Host and India at Abu Dhabi. Food Stylist, and Manu S. Pillai, 2017’s Shri Kumar Vikram, Editor and Yuva Sahitya Akademi Award winner also Shri Imran Ul-Haque, Deputy Director participated at the Fair. (Exhibition) represented NBT, India at National Book Trust, India the Fair. Sharjah: Guest of Honour at NDWBF 2019 harjah is the third largest and third As part of the India-UAE Joint Smost populous city in the United Arab Statement released during the visit of the Emirates, forming part of the Dubai- Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to UAE Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. It is in February 2018, Sharjah is the Guest of located along the southern coast of the Honour at the New Delhi World Book Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. Fair (5-13 January 2019). Sharjah has Sharjah is the capital of the emirate been chosen the guest of honour due to of Sharjah. Sharjah shares legal, political, its pioneering efforts in the promotion of military and economic functions with the literature, arts in all its forms, intercultural other emirates of the UAE within a federal appreciation, reading and knowledge framework, although each emirate has sharing in the region. jurisdiction over some functions such as Sharjah, as the Guest of Honour, civil law enforcement and provision and specialised book publishing free zone. The will be participating with a delegation upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been zone currently offers 40,000 square metres of publishers, writers, artists and other ruled by the Al Qasimi dynasty since the of offices and office space for up to 550 intellectuals at NDWBF. A host of 18th century. publishers, distributors, printers and other programmes, including literary events, Though young, the Sharjah publishing associated publishing businesses. discussions, workshops and cultural industry is growing rapidly, it hosts Sharjah Sharjah has been chosen as as the programmes will be organized during the International Book Fair annually which ‘World Book Capital 2019’ by United Fair. These interactive sessions will help the is the third largest book fair in the world Nations Educational, Scientific and booklovers know about the rich literature, and has recently opened the world’s first Cultural Organization (UNESCO). tradition and culture of Sharjah.

2 NBT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2018 National Education Day Celebrations I have many friends. But there book, Lulu Ki Sanak and interacted “are two friends who are very with the children. Children asked close to me, one is the book and him several questions like when the other are children,” said Shri he started writing stories, who Divik Ramesh, noted children’s inspired him to write, etc. author at the storytelling session In her address, Dr Rita organized by the National Centre Chowdhury, Director, NBT said for Children’s Literature at NBT that children’s literature is different Conference Room, New Delhi from other literature. It helps on 12 November 2018. The children to learn new things and session was organized to mark gives them guidance. She added the National Education Day that authors are part of human celebrations. The occasion marks the birth he read out a Korean poem in Hindi and development. Therefore, they should anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, remarked that a number of quality books write books according to the interest of the first education minister of India. from across the world are now available in children and help them enhance their He added, “Whenever I write a story, the form of translations. inquisitiveness. I first get it reviewed by children before Later, he narrated stories from his Ms Neera Jain, Chief Editor & printing.” Talking about the importance Joint Director, NBT also spoke on the of reading habit, he said that books are a occasion. She hoped that the children source of knowledge and help us become would enjoy the session and learn new a good human being. He further said that things. learning is incomplete with textbooks, Around 50 children from an NGO one needs to read books other than namely, Combined Action for Progress textbooks also. He made children aware participated in the programme. about their rights also like right to play, Shri Dwijendra Kumar, English right to read books, etc. Editor, NBT India, coordinated the Encouraging children to read books, programme.

Fair Daily he visitors’ pick and a must read for the New Delhi World Book Fair goers is the FAIR DAILY. An NBT initiative, the FAIR TDAILY is the only daily publication which is distributed throughout the fair grounds. It is the best and unique opportunity for publishers, booksellers and other fair participants to be seen and heard. You can advertise your contents/products to attract visitors to your stall at the Fair. The Rates for the Advertisements are: Full page One issue Rs. 15000/- Inside pages Nine issues Rs. 30000/- Full page Nine issues Rs. 110000/- (Bottom/side strip) Half Page One issue Rs. 8000/- Back cover One issue Rs. 20000/- Half page Nine issues Rs. 60000/- Back cover Nine issues Rs. 140000/- Quarter page One issue Rs. 5000/- Quarter page Nine issues Rs. 40000/- Advertisement Specifications Front page One issue Rs. 15000/- Front Bottom Strip 4 cm x 21.5 cm (Bottom strip) Inside Bottom Strip 7 cm x 21.5 cm Front page Nine issues Rs. 110000/- Back Cover 33 cm x 21.5 cm (Bottom strip) Full Page 32 cm x 21.5 cm Inside pages One issue Rs. 4000/- Half Page 15.5 cm x 21.5 cm (Bottom/side strip) Quarter Page 15.5 cm x 10.5 cm For further details contact : Shri Binny Kurian Rights, Translation & Acquisition Officer, National Book Trust, India Nehru Bhawan, 5 Institutional Area, Phase II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070 Tel.: 26707761, 9868268105

DECEMBER 2018 NBT NEWSLETTER 3 4 NBT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2018 Books on Energy and Environment

December is a special month of environmentalists. 2nd December is observed as ‘National Pollution Control Day’; 8th December is ‘Plastic Free Day’; and 14th December is ‘World Energy Conservation Day’. NBT has published a number of books related to environment and energy conservation. Some of the titles are given below.

Our Environment is increasing day by and linked sustainable forest management. Laeeq Futehally day, this book, while ISBN 978-81-237-6301-9; ` 70.00 Written in an easy and discussing the general Primer on Sustaining Agrobiodiversity lucid style, the book nature of pollution, for Food Security looks at the varied also examines in detail P S Ramakrishnan natural environment of some of the major areas Part of a series of our country in all their of pollution like air, primers on biodiversity, contours of utility and water and soil, including this volume discusses aesthetic appeal. The thermal radiation and designing sustainable author emphasises, without being averse to noise pollution and their deleterious pathways for sustainable the needs of man’s dependence on Nature, impact on man and environment alike. agriculture for ensuring that most of the damage inflicted on the ISBN 978-81-237-1034-1; ` 100.00 future food security for environment is unwittingly done. Minerals, Mines and Environment in all. ISBN 978-81-237-0036-6; ` 95.00 Human Life ISBN 978-81-237-6362-0; ` 60.00 Ecology and Sustainable Development K K Chatterjee We Breathe and Drink Poison P S Ramakrishnan This book seeks to bridge N Manivasakam This revised edition all the gaps between the The book discusses the discusses community mining industries and major areas of pollution participation in natural the environmentalist like air, water and resource management, groups and clear the soil and how thermal which is linked to confusion in the minds radiation and noise sustainable management of all the stakeholders pollution are casting an of natural and human- by treating the subject through a blend of impact on man and his managed ecosystems, geology, social science and environmental environment, posing a with concern for sustainable livelihood science. danger to all living beings. of rural societies in the short-term, and ` ISBN 978-81-237-6733-8; 90.00 ISBN 978-81-237-1488-2; ` 90.00 sustainable development of the region as Plastics: A Threat to Mankind part of a long-term plan. Wind Energy Chintan ISBN 978-81-237-5257-0; ` 145.00 Suneel B Athawale This book explains the This book, through Energy impact of plastics on the diagrams and A K Bakhshi environment, human illustrations, introduces The importance of energy health and economy, and the readers to this non- in our daily life can what all is being done to conventional source never be overemphasised reduce our dependence of energy and explains particularly in today’s on the plastics, which will how wind energy can be world when fossil fuels eventually be beneficial converted into mechanical and electrical are in danger of being to the mankind in the long run. energy by windmills for supplementing depleted. There is practically no activity ` ISBN 978-81-237-4629-6; 45.00 our energy needs. which does not involve the transfer or Primer on Forest Biodiversity ISBN 978-81-237-0679-5; ` 75.00 transformation of energy. This book P S Ramakrishnan discusses its various aspects including A Real Giraffe This volume emphasizes the consequences of production and Deepa Agarwal upon ecological, social, utilisation of energy on our environment. Illustrator:Arya Praharaj economic and cultural ISBN 978-81-237-1458-5; ` 80.00 An interesting story about a boy who dimensions of forestry, wants a real giraffe. But his parents make Environmental Pollution taking a trans-disciplinary him understand the real living place of N Manivasakam approach towards forest giraffe is in natural habitat with parents. At a time when environmental pollution biodiversity conservation ISBN 978-81-237-5625-7; ` 40.00

DECEMBER 2018 NBT NEWSLETTER 5 Excerpts: Warp and Weft

NBT India is publishing a book titled spate; tear off the threads tightly wound Warp and Weft: Makrs of Modern round his arms by flexing his muscles at India, edited by Hirendra Nath will, keep his breath under control for a Dutta & Stuti Goswami. Herein we long time, and so on. reproduce excerpts from the chapter After leaving school in his late teens, ‘Sankaradeva’ - Editor Sankara took over the charge of Siromani Bhuyanship from his grand uncle and o other individual has left such a began to look after the family affairs. As Npowerful and lasting influence on he shouldered the responsibility at a young Assamese life and society as Sankaradeva. age, he came to be known as ‘Dekagiri’ For the last five centuries, Assam has (or Young Master). He was affable and witnessed diverse upheavals of social sympathetic, and was loved and respected change; its political sky has resounded by everyone. Meanwhile, he shifted his many a time with feuds amongst kings residence to Bordowa, where he wrote his and princes, foreign invasions, imperial first book Harischandra Upakhyana. dominations, and so on. However, In his early twenties, Sankaradeva Sankaradeva has managed to survive all married a fourteen-year-old girl named such vicissitudes and retain the same hold Chandivara’s great grandson Suryavati. Three years later, a girl named on the Assamese people as he had half a Kusumvara inherited the title of Siromani Manu was born but unfortunately, his millennium ago. Bhuyan. Kusumvara was married to wife died nine months after the birth This has been possible because Satyasandha. As he remained childless for of this child. This incident created a Sankaradeva was not only a guru who a long time he married again. Some time vacuum in his life. He became indifferent propagated Neo-Vaishnavism in Assam; after his second marriage, his first wife to worldly pleasures and began to seek he was a multi-faceted personality whose gave birth to a son. With the belief that solace in religious musings. When the actions and ideals have reinvigorated the the newly born child was the result of his child attained the age of nine, he married Assamese for a new social restructuring. offerings to Lord Shiva, Kusumvara named her to a youth named Hari and went on He was an erudite scholar, a gifted poet, him Sankaravara (or Sankara’s boon). a pilgrimage. For twelve years he visited a dramatist par excellence, a talented Sankaravara later came to be known as various Vaishnavite centres of India, musician, a steadfast pursuer of humanistic Sankaradeva. observed the overwhelming social and ideals, and above all a social reformist. Legend has it that Sankaradeva was religious changes brought about by the Sankaradeva came from a Bhuyan born at Alipukhuri in 1449 AD. Some Bhakti movement and then returned home family. ‘Bhuyan’ is corrupt form of the scholars, however, express reservations to spread Neo-Vaishnavite ideals among Sanskrit word bhaumika which means about this date. To them the actual date the people of Assam. He refused to take landowner. His great-great-grandfather was some years later. When Sankaradeva charge of the Siromani Bhuyanship from Chandivara was a resident of Gauda was six years old, he lost his father and his grand uncle and absolved himself from country. He came to Assam during the then his mother. Orphaned at a young age, all other worldly responsibilities. However, reign of Durlabhanarayana (1330-50), he was brought up by his grandmother owing to his grandmother’s insistence, he the powerful king who ruled the Kamata Khersuti and Jayanta, the younger brother married a young girl named Kalindi, who kingdom in the fourteenth century. The of his grandfather who took up the title of was to be his devoted companion for the king granted him land at a place called Siromani Bhuyan on his behalf. rest of his life. Lengamaguri near Hajo (near Guwahati). Pampered by his grandmother and Sankaradeva’s first step to draw people He migrated eastwards and settled at a other elders of the family, Sankaradeva towards his form of Neo-Vaishnavism place called Rauta on the north bank of began attending school at the age of was the performance of a dance musical the Brahmaputra. However, he did not twelve. He was admitted to a tol (a named Chihna where he depicted the remain there for long. In search of fertile school where Sanskrit learning is given glory of Lord Krishna. It is said that he land he came to the southern bank of importance) under the supervision of himself did everything necessary for the the Brahmaputra, reclaimed lands near Mahendra Kandali. Sankara was a gifted successful performance of the musical Bordowa, built a village called Alipukhuri child and soon he outshone other pupils in — he drew the paintings of the seven by constructing roads (ali) and digging a his studies. At the same time, he also took heavens (or sapta vaikuntha), prepared tank (pukhuri) and finally settled there. great care of his health and practiced yoga. the paints all by himself, had the musical He soon became a big landlord and came There are many tales that bear testimony instruments made under his guidance by to be recognised as Siromani Bhuyan (or to his immaculate physical fitness. He local artisans, and played the part of the the head of the Bhuyans). could swim across the Brahmaputra in major instrumentalist.

6 NBT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2018 Excerpts: Many Autums

NBT India is publishing a book technology. He has popularized the term titled Many Autumns: A Poet’s Journey ‘global village’ in his book The Gutenberg through Eastern Europe, written Galaxy: The Making of Topographic originally in Odia by Sitakant Man (1962). When I thought of my Mahapatra and translated into English co-passengers on my both sides I felt by Arun Kumar Mohanty. Herein we the truth of McLuhan’s statement. On reproduce excerpts from the chapter several occasions, while traveling by train ‘The Way and the Wayfarer’ -Editor it also occurred to me that the fellow passengers, of different villages and towns, t was not yet autumn in Bhubaneswar or with different thoughts and dreams were IDelhi by the last week of August. As the there together for a few hours; their fate monsoon was gradually receding, the sky had brought them together. People of so got clearer. Floating clouds, dew drops in many places were pulled together during the late night, the night sky getting clearer, such journeys. Friendship, bitterness and flowers of the plumed grass dancing on diverse feelings came to an end when it riverine islands, joyous mood sweeping was time for them to go their separate villages and towns heralding the approach and town were among the ways—like travelers relaxing under the of the festive season, the clear sunshine of most beautiful places in the world. They shade of a tree. Bhadrav-Aswina—all these would only had attended the international poetry It was not yet morning when I got be a matter of days when I embarked on festival ‘’ in the up. The plane had landed. I came out this journey. And I would be coming back preceding years. and noticed floating clouds in the sky and in the second week of October, when Loknath, Srikant and several other a few stars blinking from among them. Dussera celebrations would be in full friends saw me off at the Delhi airport. Facing me was a hill and on the foothills swing. Sometimes a shower or two would Celebrated Malayalam poet and literary there were layers of buildings of Beirut pound the earth. critic Ayyappa Paniker joined me at lighted with electric lamps. Darkness As I took a Buubaneswar-Kolkata Mumbai. It was past midnight when the was gradually disappearing from the west flight, the view of clouds emerging from plane took off from Mumbai. My eyelids facing the Mediterranean. Beirut airport the Bay of Bengal and camping at Jambu, were heavy and I was feeling sleepy. Seats was not very far from the sea. The morning Paradeep and on the Mahanadi mouth on my either side were occupied by ladies. sea breeze thrilled me. I remembered my reminded me of the many autumns I had On one side was Mrs Meena Kshatri, father’s words of advice: “Get up early in left behind in my life. All those experiences a newly married Nepalese lady. After the morning, wash your face and take a now formed a part of my memory. The spending a few days with her parents, she walk. Morning breeze is good for health.” flow of water in the Citrotpala gradually was going to join her husband, an electrical Of course, I had not washed my face when grew silent and still; ridge gourd and engineer working in Rome. On the other I disembarked. cucumber flowers no longer bloomed. side was Mrs Pamela Rachael, a high level The view of the city of Beirut from The walls were painted with motifs of official working with an international the airport has always fascinated me. Twice flowers, peacocks and elephants; swords organization YMCA. A native of earlier I had disembarked here early in the gathering rust over the years were brought in Africa, she was going to Sweden morning. I had enjoyed the cool morning from store room, lekhanis, the traditional after inspecting the organisation’s work breeze on the Mediterranean shore and India pen, were cleaned of cobwebs— in India, Indonesia and Thailand. We watched palm leaves shiver as the city slept these articles and weapons of the yore discussed Struga. She was extremely glad and dreamt. I do not know what the dream would be worshipped on the occasion of to know that the celebrated Senegalese was about—perhaps some nightmare, that Dussera. Lord Ramachandra had to offer poet Leopold Sedar Senghor was going which took the ugly shape of murder, loot, worship to Goddess Durga in this season. to receive the prestigious Golden Wreath violence and national calamity. The city of Grandpa used to bless us, “Live a hundred award for the year. Senghor, the first African Beirut, the queen of the Middle East, how autumns.” The autumn sky, clouds, to be elected as a member of the Academie prosperous once this area was, a centre of trees, men and celebrations are spread all Françoise, mostly wrote in French and tourist attractions! But alas, everything has over. I do not exactly remember which star had more than twenty collections to his been destroyed as mortars, machine guns represented my grandpa’s eyes. But those credit. Later, I was surprised to see books and murderers ruled. Death, suffering days I certainly knew the star and even of criticism on his work, that too in several and mourning have not spared anyone— showed it to others once or twice. languages. Leftists, Rightists, Muslims and Christians; I had heard from my friends Loknath Marshall McLuhan once said that the the intensity of tragedy was the same for Bhattacharya and Amrita Pritam that Lake world has been contracted into a village by everyone.

DECEMBER 2018 NBT NEWSLETTER 7 Mobile Book Exhibitions in RNI-39456/82 Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-1-4076/2018-20 Maharashtra Licenced to post without prepayment. ver the past few decades, Mobile Book Exhibitions are being L.No. U(SW)21/2018-20 Oorganized by the National Book Trust, India. As part of the Mailing date: 5/6 Same Month Trust’s outreach programme, the mobile exhibition is a unique Date of Publication: 01/12/2018 initiative which began over two decades ago and has helped the Trust to reach out to booklovers in nook and corner of the country, exhibition in Maharashtra in November and December 2018. especially remote areas where it is difficult to find books and hardly The mobile vans will beorganized in different parts of the State any publisher approaches the readers. These mobile exhibitions including Aurangabad, Beed, Jalna, Latur, Osmanabad, Pune, have helped the Trust to carry forward its objective of promotion Satara and Solapur. These mobile vans will travel to various of books in English, Hindi and other Indian languages and the schools, colleges, villages, local markets, bus stands, etc. of the culture of reading in the country. area. The schedule of the vans is given below. As part of this regular feature, Western Regional Office of the Pune: 20 to 25 November 2018 Trustwhich is located in Mumbai, is organizing the mobile book Satara: 25 to 30 November 2018 Solapur: 1 to 5 December 2018 Osmanabad: 6 to 10 December 2018 Latur: 10 to 14 December 2018 Beed: 14 to 19 December 2018 Jalna: 19 to 23 December 2018 Aurangabad: 23 to 28 December 2018 Become a Member of NBT Book Club Avail a Discount of 20% on NBT Publications

NBT Newsletter is the house magazine of the National On India Government Service Book Trust, India — an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, 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

National Book Trust, India Nehru Bhawan, 5 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, Phase-II New Delhi-110 070 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nbtindia.gov.in Readers are requested to write to the editor expressing their views about the NEWSLETTER.

Printed and published by Satish Kumar on behalf of National Book Trust, India and printed at Aravali Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30 Phase-II, Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi-110020, and published at National Book Trust, India, Nehru Bhawan, 5 Institutional Area, Phase-II, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Editor: Binny Kurian.

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8 NBT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2018