Showcasing Indigenous Expressions reeting the visitors at Hall wealth was sustained in the vast No. 7 is a huge reclining repositories of ‘oral memories’ Gfigure of a lady engrossed by various communities. in reading. This replica of a These indigenous voices figure, a Bengal folk art form, have found their expressions in in a way represents the Theme medium as varied as handicrafts Presentation of the New Delhi to performances and literature. World Book Fair 2013. In bringing a renewed focus on Indigenous Voice: Mapping this tradition and culture, the India’s Folk and Tribal Literature NBT has conceived and put up is an attempt by National Book an impressive pavilion at Hall Trust, India to map some of 7E. The Pavilion transports the writings on tribal and folk the visitors to a time and place literature as well as works by that still co-exists along with and on tribals. our urbane existence, with its Kalamkari, an ancient style of textile art tradition by nomadic painting from Andhra Pradesh; Waghari community of Gujarat; Kavad, story telling in pictorial Pabuji ka Phad, storytelling tradition; Pattachitra painting through painting; Rajwar murals from Odisha; Warli painting style of painting practised by from Maharashtra; Gond art women of Rajwar community of from central India; Patwa style Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya of painting from Bihar and West Pradesh; Ravan Chaya traditional Bengal; Pinguli Chitrakatha story shadow-puppet theatre form telling tradition; Mata-ni-Pachedi of Odisha; Thanka, painting Wisdom Tree: Nurturing young minds! The identity of a nation colossal replicas of the dwelling and her people lie in its many abodes of our community. These traditions and cultures that have include typical traditional houses withstood the test of times. Until from the South, the West, the the time the traditional knowlege North, the East as well as the of our communities, be it their Northeast. faith, culture, belief systems, Complimenting them are New Delhi World Book Fair 2013 made a dedicated effort to invite school craft, performances, literature panels on various traditional students everyday to enhance the reading habits. were captured for posterity, this story telling art forms like creating an alternative and scholars from across the literary landscape. These country will participate in the voices from within are much deliberations. They include more than simple narratives Narayan, Ivy Hansdak, Ram but also include novels, Rahman, Mini Krishnan, G.N. essays and dramas. In the Devy, Jivya Soma Mashe, process, they augur a new Muthukumarasamy, Badri idiom and change that will Narayan, K. Satchidanandan, continue to strengthen the Temsula Ao, Tabu Taid and national fabric of India. Arjun Deo Sharan. Many such writings in The Theme Pavilion also English and tribal languages showcases every day at the are displayed at the Theme Lal Chowk Theatre various Pavilion. An annotated folk music, dance and drama catalogue of the books presentations from all over the displayed is available for country. These include Pandavani, the general public at the Choliya Dance & Lok Geet, Kabui Pavilion. Naga Dance, Bhand Pather, on silk with embroidery, used Bhili-Gujarati, Himachali, Santali Over the days during the Purulia Chhau, Naqqal, Pulikali, as tools to depict the life of and Kokborok. A display of Fair the Theme Pavilion will Bajashal, Kolkali, Bagrumba & Buddha; Tholpavakoothu, a mixed genres they include fiction, host discussions where writers Bood Dance etc. shadow-puppetry of Kerala; non-fiction, folklore and some Pithora paintings of Rathwas, incisive scholarly studies on the Bhilals and Naykas of Gujarat communities, their way of life, and Madhya Pradesh; Jadu as well as their struggles for Pat painting and story telling survival under the onslaught tradition of the Santal tribes; of change. and Madhuban or Mithila style Besides, the exhibit showcases of painting traditionally done new refreshing voices that are by the Women folk. Together emerging today from among they showcase the rich and the communities themselves, diverse artistic traditional ways of communication. Making a transition from orality to written, that documents and preserves this knowledge for posterity is the display of over 500 books in English, Hindi and other Indian languages including tribal languages like Lepcha, Gondi, Chhattisgarhi, ‘India 2013’ released A Forum of Santali Writers he Publications Division, Ministry of Information & antali is a sweet language”, said Shri A. Sethumadhavan, Broadcasting, Government of India released their latest title Chairman, NBT at the Santali Writer’s Panel Discussion held T‘India 2013’ at the New Delhi World Book Fair. Manish at the Theme Pavilion on 5 February 2013 by All India Tribal Tiwari, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting officially S Booksellers’ and Publishers’ Forum, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. released the book. He also launched the new logo for ‘Employment Speaking as the Chief Guest at the Panel Discussion titled News’ and e-version of Urdu Employment News. ‘Indigenous People’s Philosophy on Global Environment, Peace, Prospect and Propagation of Tribal Language in India and Abroad’, Shri Sethumadhavan said, “All languages are born of one mother, hence all languages are valuable. Any language is passed through the generations from their ancestors; hence the language is a part of our heritage.” H e i n f o r m e d t h e audience that NBT publishes books in about 35 languages which include Santali, Himachali, Sindhi as well as north-eastern languages like Ao Naga, Bhutia, Khasi, Garo, Limboo, Lepcha, Mising among others. Coordinating the programme, Shri Mangal Majhi, President of the All India Tribal Booksellers’ and Publishers’ Forum, and Founder, Aadim Book Centre, said that he was hopeful that organizations like NBT would publish more books in Santali. Motivational session on Speaking on the occasion, Dr P. C. Roy, well known Santali writer, said that we have already lost two tribal languages in 2 years, and books and youth today another two languages are on the verge of extinction. He was of the opinion that we should concentrate more on preserving our t 4:00 pm, today, there will be a motivational indigenous languages and developing their script. He gave examples talk by Prof Dinesh Singh, vice chancellor, of the first Adivasi languages ‘Prakriti’ and the ancient language AUniversity of Delhi on ‘Books and youth ‘Pali’, which have now been lost to our civilization. today’ in Conference Room, 1st Floor, Hall 7. Others who spoke at the discussion included Shri U.N. Majhi, The session will be chaired by Shri Sandeep Dr K. Anil Kumar, Shri K.C. Kispotta, Shri S C Soren and Shri Dixit, Member of Parliament. Mangal Madan. Tax policies need to be tweaked to boost publishing sector; Dr. Shashi Tharoor calls for competition to drive growth at CEOSpeak – forum for publishing he need for r e s e a r c h Tbooks and p a p e r s , a c c e n t on e-publishing and tax policies which incentivize quality publishing was underlined by eminent speakers at the ‘CEOSpeak over Chairman’s Breakfast’ Forum. T h e F o r u m o r g a n i z e d b y FICCI and National Book Trust Chairman Xpro India Limited, during the World Book Fair 2013, stated, “With an output of is the first-of-its-kind where the over 35-40,000 titles in English CEOs and Senior Executives annually, India exceeds the of the publishing sector came individual output of Australia, under one roof to discuss the South Africa, New Zealand and opportunities and challenges Canada. faced by the sector. The aim was to discuss and share issues and concerns to evolve a composite agenda of Indian publishing. Besides a congregation of leading CEOs from Indian publishing sector, the Forum witnessed the participation of foreign publishing houses. Addressing the Forum, Dr. He pointed out, “This vital Shashi Tharoor, Minister of sector which contributes to the State for HRD, said, “Many economy but is still not fully publishers are coming to India corporatized. It is saddening first to publish their books. that such a literary sector With the rising level of literacy, that contributes to the social the publishing sector is set cause of education, generates to grow significantly from its employment, creates cultural current level of US$2 billion. stance has not been given the The industry needs healthy industry status. The much competition to flourish. We needed industry status, if need intellectual discussions and granted, will make the sector policies which can help the sector eligible for funding from financial to develop comprehensively,” said institutions. Dr. Tharoor. Mr. Kailash Balani, Managing Director, Balani Infotech Pvt. Ltd, remarked, “There is scope Mr. A Sethumadhavan, of joint ventures in the sector. Chairman, National Book Trust, There is also need for developing Ministry of Human Resource infrastructure and publishing Development, said publishing institutions.” The Forum was is not a one-stop activity. All also addressed by Dr. Judith the stakeholders in the business Oriol, Book Attachée, French should share their ideas and Embassy in India; Mr. Eric must formulate policies that are Yang, Executive Director, Korean beneficial to the sector. Publishers’ Association and Dr. A Mr. Sidharth Birla, Senior Didar Singh, Secretary General, Vice President, FICCI and FICCI. At Lal Chowk Theatre... hang-ta is the martial musical instruments of the shrines with singing, chanting dance originated in the Kumaon art of Manipur practised Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. and dancing. It incorporates the region of Uttarakhand. Also Twith sword and spear. In These instruments include Muria, popular love epic of Khamba- known as the sword dance, Manipuri, ‘thang’ means sword, Dandami, Madia, Dhurva, Dorla, Thoibi. While dancing to invoke this martial art form is more and ‘ta’ means spear. It includes Munda, Mahra, Gadba, Bhatra, the deity, one of the priestesses than a thousand years old, sword-fight, fight with spears Lohra, Parja, Mirgin, Malba, etc.