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Veergatha Books Launched Annual Subscription Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy February 2016 • Vol 34 No. 2 Contents Veergatha Books Launched Veergatha Books Launched 1-2 Book on Sir Lallubhai Samaldas Released 2 New Delhi World Book Fair: NDWBF Inauguration 3 Chinese Pavilion 4 Theme Pavilion 5 Children’s Pavilion 6 There have been a very few efforts added that a league of ex-servicemen may “to remember the deeds of the great be formed in each state of the country that Young Voices New Writings 7 men who created the history of our would provide physical training to the country,” said Smt Smriti Zubin Irani, children and make them aware about the Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource contributions of the great personalities. National Library, Kolkata 8 Development while launching a set of five She urged NCERT and CBSE to illustrated books for children at a fuction include these books as reference reading held on 25 January 2016 at the Air Force material for children in schools. PICK OF THE MONTH Auditorium, Subroto Park, New Delhi. She said that the stories of heroes These books in English and Hindi have like Sam Bahadur and Jaswant Singh been published by the National Book may also be written. She also felt that the Trust, India under its newly introduced books on the contribution of civilians like ‘Veergatha’ series. Gaura Devi who came forward to save Smt. Irani expressed her happiness environment may also be published. that the Ministry of Defence and National In his address, General Dalbir Singh, Book Trust, India have dedicated the the Chief of Army Staff said that it is a books on the Param Veer Chakra awardees significant step to document the bravery to the nation. She added that these books of our real time heroes and disseminate have been brought out to make children it across a wide readership. He informed aware about the contributions of these that the Ministry of Human Resource Param Vir Chakra Awardees: great men. Development has taken up an initiative Major Somnath Sharma She observed that the ex-servicemen ‘Seema Darshan’ under which the children Major Shaitan Singh across the country remind us about the from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Havildar Abdul Hamid contributions of the brave soldiers. She Schools and other schools are being sent Second Lt. Arun Khetrapal Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey FEBRUARY 2016 NBT NEWSLETTER 1 to the border to spend a few days with the Param Veer Chakra awardees including Animesh Debnath, Nipen Bhuyan and soldiers. Major Somnath Sharma (1947 war), Samudra Kajal Saikia. These books have Smt Irani also felicitated the family Major Shaitan Singh (1962 war), CQMH been published in Hindi also. members of the Param Veer Chakra Abdul Hamid (1965 war), Second Veergatha series seek to introduce awardees during the function. Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (1971 war) the great acts of bravery of the Param Shri Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Secretary, and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey Veer Chakra awardees to instill a sense MHRD; Shri R. Subrahmanyam, (1999 Kargil battle). of inspiration and patriotism in children Additional Secretary, MHRD; Shri The books have been developed with at an early age. The Param Veer Chakra Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Chairman, NBT and the support of the Ministry of Defence (PVC) is the highest gallantry award for Dr Rita Chowdhury, Director, NBT were and the Ministry of Human Resource officers and other enlisted personnel of all also present on the occasion. Development. All the five scripts have military branches of India for the highest The five books released on the been prepared by Gaurav Sawant and degree of valour in the presence of the occasion illustrate the saga of bravery of illustrated by Fajruddin, Dheeraj Bhatia, enemy. Introduced on 26th January 1950, this award may be given posthumously. Book on Sir Lallubhai Samaldas Released ir Lallubhai Samaldas: owned. Lallubhai, together with SA Portrait, published by a group of like minded citizens NBT, India and authored by of Bombay, set up the Bank Aparna Basu, was released on of India in 1906. He helped 28 December 2015 at the India set up the Bank of Baroda and International Centre, New Delhi. was its Chairman for many Smt. Vidyaben Shah, a renowned years. He was founder Director social worker, former President of and Chairman of the Bombay the Delhi Social Welfare Board, Life Assurance Corporation. the Indian Council of Child Besides, he established many new Welfare and NDMC, released industries. He was a member the books. Speaking on the occasion, she He also spoke of how he had fought for of the Bombay Legislative Council and recalled her days as a graduate student in fiscal autonomy. He said that Lallubhai of the Imperial Legislative Council. Samaldas College, Bhavnagar which was began as a Moderate in politics believing She highlighted his contribution to the founded by Sir Lallubhai in memory of his in the justice and fairness of British rule Cooperative movement and in the field of father. Her husband, late Shri Manubhai in India but these views gradually changed education. Shah, Industries and Commerce Minister by the 1930s and he came much closer to The book discussion was chaired in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet, was also Gandhiji’s ideas. by Shri Kisan Mehta, Vice President of educated at Samaldas College. While introducing the book, Aparna the Gujarat Education Society and a Dr. Nasir Tyabji, former Professor Basu said that she wanted to make a larger long standing member of the Managing and Director of the Centre for Jawaharlal public aware of Lallubhai’s contribution Committee and Governing Body of Nehru Studies at Jamia MIllia Islamia, to the making of modern India. The Sardar Patel School and Gujarati Club. He spoke about Sir Lallubhai’s contribution in ideals of economic nationalism inspired spoke of his long association with various building up the Co-operative movement him and he wanted to set up enterprises members of Lallubhai’s family. in Bombay state and industries such as owned and managed by Indians. Banking Smt. Nira Jain, Chief Editor, NBT the Scindia Steam Navigation Company. and insurance were then entirely British India, coordinated the programme. 2 NBT NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 New Delhi World Book Fair January remained a hectic month for the National Book Trust, enthusiasm. We covered many of the happenings in the Fair India as it organised the 24th edition of the New Delhi World Daily, a bulletin published every day during the Fair. We are Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 9 to 17 January reproducing some of the write-ups published in the Fair Daily 2016. A number of events took place at the Fair in which a that gives a ringside view of the New Delhi World Book Fair number of authors and booklovers participated with great 2016. NDWBF Inauguration Today we not only celebrate the texts like Kautilya’s Arthashastra, she said Yatris, along with a photographer, a “exponential growth of the publishing that in our history we find resonance of creative writer and a historian to countries business both in India and China, but also relationship with China. Welcoming the like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the human interest in it,” said Ms Smriti Chinese delegation she emphasised, “We Cambodia and Myanmar to learn about Zubin Irani, Union Minsiter of Human believe in Athithi Devo Bhavaa and we the influence of Indian culture. Resource Development while declaring worship the guests as we worship our gods. “The Vedas are the first repositories of open the 24th New Delhi World Book We hope that Chinese will feel at home in culture not only of India but also of the Fair at Pragati Maidan. India.” world,” said Shri S.L. Bhyrappa, eminent Welcoming China as the Guest of Appreciating the efforts of NBT in Kannada author. On the importance and Honour Country she observed, “China creating a platform for young writers to role that epics Ramayana and Mahabharata was invited to be the guest country after the publish their works, she observed that played in our culture, Bhyrappa said, “The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping here publication of such writings would not be poets, writers, artists and scholars have not last year where he signed a memorandum limited to a few languages but it should only been inspired but also depended on of understanding with Prime Minister be brought out in 22 Indian languages. the epics for themes in Indian classical Narendra Modi.” Referring to the She also informed that select children dance forms like Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, instances of China mentioned in ancient from various states will be sent as Shodh Odissi etc. According to him, Sanskrit is FEBRUARY 2016 NBT NEWSLETTER 3 not a dead language as some say, but rather countries, he said that both are known Literature, culture and art are closely it is very much alive. We must take efforts for their resplendent ancient civilizations. related to everyday life, said eminent to revive it as a medium of communication Neighboured by the ancient silk road, writer, Mr Liu Zhenyun, and books are a particularly in areas of administration and people of the two countries have enjoyed solace to our troubled times. science & technology. Shri Bhyrappa was mutual communications for more than Earlier, in his welcome address, Shri the Guest of Honour at the function. 2000 years—leaving a glorious chapter in Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Chairman, NBT “India is an amazing country with the history of cultural exchanges. India, said this year the Theme Pavilion a profound and diversified culture. I am In his brief address H.E. Ambassador will showcase the unity in diversity of our amazed by the rapid development of India Le Yucheng said, “The New Delhi rich and diverse cultural heritage.
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