NBT newsletter Annual subscription Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy Volume 31 No. 10 • October 2013
Contents Mathematics Made Easy
Storytelling Session at NBT 2 PubliCon 2013—Export Markets 3
Tales for Today’s Children: Connecting to the Roots 4 Literature on Swami Vivekananda 4 19th Delhi Book Fair 2013 5 Workshop on Promoting Reading Habit 5 Mathematics is a very intimidating strong since the ancient times. NCCL Library: A Profile “subject that finds applications Presiding over the function, 6 universally. The application is more Ambassador K.P. Fabian said that people Books On and By Gandhi important than the subject because it is avoid mathematics because of the way 7 the application that fascinates people to it is taught. He was hopeful that readers apply science of mathematics into art, would find the book interesting and Pick of the Month space, architecture, construction, design, would encourage the young to understand pure science etc. Today mathematics is mathematics better. finding application everywhere including our lives”, said Dr M.M. Pallam Raju, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India, while releasing the book, What is Mathematics? written by Shri Balkrishna Shetty, published by the National Book Trust, India. The function was organised at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 17 September 2013. Commending NBT on publishing a book of importance, Prof Dinesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi said that everything in this world follows a mathematical pattern including the nature around us, the genetic code, physical Little Wonders law and even the planets which revolve Laxmi Khanna ‘Suman’ around the sun. He added that the Indian 978-81-237-6885-4; Rs 45 mathematical tradition has been quite Prof. Pravin Kiran Sinclair, Director opinion that though people avoid studying presence “…shows how much emphasis NCERT, talked about the importance mathematics, it is in fact very close to Dr Pallam Raju lays on the importance of of variable education tools, other than critical thinking and everyday symmetry. education in the country”. the textbooks, which help teaching He hoped that his book would bridge that Earlier, Shri M.A. Sikandar, Director, mathematics to the students as an gap and interest people to take up the NBT welcomed the guests present on the alternative source of learning the subject study of mathematics as they do for other occasion. He hoped that the book would well. subjects.Thanking the Hon’ble Minister be well received by the readers, and be Addressing the session, Shri Balkrishna for gracing the occasion by releasing the of benefit to them, especially the young Shetty, author of the book was of the book, he said that the Hon’ble Minister’s readers. Storytelling Session at NBT
n its efforts to promote lot of research needs to be Ireading habit in the done before preparing the country especially among illustrations. the children, National Children accompanied Centre for Children’s with their teachers from Literature (NCCL), different schools of Delhi a wing of National and NCR participated Book Trust, India in the session. They also organised an interactive interacted with both the storytelling session for author and illustrator of school children with the book and asked several Prof. Anvita Abbi, questions related to the author and Shri Atanu folktale. The session was Roy, illustrator, at its coordinated by Shri Manas bookshop in Nehru Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor Bhawan, Vasant Kunj, (NCCL). New Delhi. The NCCL, a wing of storytelling was based NBT, India was established on the book Jiro Mithe in 1993 to promote, publish published by the Trust. and aid children’s literature. Prof. Anvita Abbi told the children birds as their ancestors. Later, she retold It is involved in a large number of activities that the book Jiro Mithe is the first folktale the story of Jiro Mithe which regaled the to promote children’s literature and from Andaman and Nicobar Islands children. Shri Atanu Roy, illustrator of the reading habit across the country especially that has ever been published. She added book, explained to the children the basic in remote areas. It organizes workshops, that it was narrated to her by a tribal elements required to make illustrations discussions, seminars and exhibitions for man five years ago. This folktale brings attractive and appealing to the readers. children and professionals in order to into light the belief why the people of He also told children that the illustrations explore new avenues in children’s literature Andaman do not kill birds and consider should synchronize with the story and a and to develop creative skills in children.
2 NBT Newsletter october 2013 PubliCon 2013 — Export Markets The National Book Trust, and now African authors are “India is actively engaging well-known in India. Hence, with the publishing industry Africa is a lucrative market for to reach unexplored markets Indian publishing industry. such as Africa and South Asia. African markets have been It is looking for long term traditionally dominated by investment opportunities in the US and the UK but India the publishing sector under and Africa are both emerging India-Africa Forum”, said Shri economies and have similar M.A. Sikandar, Director, NBT, issues which will help them Ministry of HRD, at ‘PubliCon better understand each other 2013’, a two-day conference and develop an egalitarian organized by FICCI from 10 relationship. to 11 September 2013, on the Expressing his views, Shri theme ‘Export Markets’ with Himanshu Gupta, Co-chair, special focus on Africa and South Asia. Even though there are copyright laws FICCI Publishing Committee and Joint Shri Sikandar called for leveraging and an official Nigerian Copyright Managing Director, S. Chand Group, said India’s strength in publishing academic Commission, the Nigerian Publishers’ that India produces publishing materials books in English and said NBT’s key Association (NPA) has established an at one-tenth of the cost incurred by the mandate is to promote Indian publishing Anti-Piracy Committee to deal with the US and the UK publishing sector. Africa industry both in the country and overseas. problem of piracy in the country”, added and South Asia are markets where Indian Smt. Ira Joshi, Additional Director Shri Falohun. publishers have shown great interest for General, Publications Division, Ministry Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rohit export of educational content. India of I&B, said that trade in cultural goods Kumar, Managing Director–South Asia, publishing has a lot to offer in terms of occupies a significant place in an economy, Reed Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd., said that new ideas and innovative concepts. “The and India is emerging as a professional India has an excellent relationship with two-day PubliCon 2013 will focus on destination for publishing work. With the Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa export markets for books and content, advent of new technology, e-publishing and many other countries. “We have the with the spotlight on Africa and South and e-marketing are rapidly gaining a experience as a country to produce low Asia. The focus will be on the potential for foothold in this sector. cost, affordable content that is relevant export of books and educational content Delivering the keynote address, Shri to local markets hence this is a natural from India to other emerging economies”. Tokunbo Falohun, Minister, Nigeria High extension of our historical collaborations. Presiding over the inaugural session, Commission, said that Africa offers Indian African nations and India would benefit Dr Arbind Prasad, Director General, publishing an excellent opportunity from leveraging India as a publishing hub FICCI said, “We have a vibrant ecosystem to export school and higher academic for all publishing services,” he added. of publishing. As per industry estimates, content to the African continent. India Ms. Urvashi Butalia, Chairperson, the publishing industry stands at around publishes books of international standard, FICCI Publishing Committee and Rs.12000 crores. We publish in more than and is comparatively competitive than Director, Zubaan, said a large Indian 20 languages and produce over 100,000 their Western counterparts. This offers a Diaspora is based out of African countries titles per year. We rank third in English good option to scale export of books to language publishing, after the US and African countries. UK”. He said that the African book The two-day conference saw issues of market is mainly centred on educational piracy & copyright, monetising content publishing, which was mainly due to through exports, viability of Indian demand in Africa for educational books. STM content for Africa and South Compared to the developed world, the Asia, potential markets for Indian K-12 African publishing industry is dependent content, and its selling across borders on textbook publishing and procurement being discussed by various panellists from by the state, the World Bank and donor across the country. The speakers included, agencies. Pranav Gupta, Sandeep Kaushik, Shesh “The publishing sector in Nigeria Sheshadri, Geeta Dharamarajan, S.K. appears to be quite vibrant and active. Ghai, Manisha Chaudhry, Karthika V.K. Nevertheless, there are several challenges. and Benny Kurian, among others. october 2013 NBT Newsletter 3 Tales for Today’s Children: Connecting to the Roots he National Centre for discussed about children’s TChildren’s Literature literature and reading (NCCL), the children’s wing habits of children in India of the National Book Trust, at present. He observed India (NBT) in association that, “To know more about with India Trade Promotion culture we need good Organisation (ITPO) books. We also need to tell and Federation of Indian children about our culture Publishers (FIP) organized and literature.” Agreeing an interactive discussion on with Shri Sikandar, he also the topic Tales for Today’s inspired children to visit Children: Connecting to libraries. the Roots during the 19th The discussion was Delhi Book Fair 2013 at highly interactive and Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on 29 August Dr Sharbari Banerjee felt that children it not only highlighted the need to 2013. should read more and more books as connect children to our tradition but Dr Sharbari Banerjee, musicologist education helps in building character also provided input to the people in from NCERT and Shri Rajendra and opinions. She felt that fantasy the field of the children’s literature to Upadhyaya, author and broadcaster books, action tales, books about the great understand the reading and learning from the News Services Division, All revolutionaries and great emperors of India needs of today’s children and explore India Radio were the key speakers on the help children to rediscover and connect to new avenues to make reading related occasion. Shri M.A. Sikandar, Director, their roots. She emphasised on the use of activities interesting. NBT, presided over the function. various creative and performing arts for Renowned authors and educationists Shri M.A. Sikandar in his introductory the purpose. like Shri Divik Ramesh, Shri Prempal note, welcomed the guests and observed Shri Rajendra Upadhyaya in his Sharma, Shri Lakshmi Khanna ‘Suman’, that children today are trying to identify paper titled Popcorn Zaroori Ya Kitaab? Shri Rajnikant Shukla, Shri Ajay Vir, their roots and therefore, use internet Prof. Chandrabhanu Pattnaik, Shri to gather information. But they are not Satya Paul, Smt. Prem Dhingra, Smt. aware that internet does not provide Kumud Kapoor, teachers, librarians and complete information that a book children from various schools of Delhi can. Therefore, we need to guide them also participated in the discussion and through books in different Indian interacted with the speakers. languages. He added that languages This interactive discussion was are important as they are part of our part of the NCCL’s Monthly Meeting tradition and culture. He asked children Programme. It was coordinated by to visit more and more libraries to gain Shri Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor, knowledge on the larger world. NCCL. Literature on Swami Vivekananda he first meeting of the NBT’s Editorial and Shri K.G. Suresh, Editor, Vivekananda TBoard to discuss and publish literature International Foundation. From the NBT, Shri on the Philosophy and Ideals of Swami M.A. Sikandar, Director, Dr Baldev Singh, CE Vivekananda was held atthe NBT headquarters, & JD, and Shri Dwijendra Kumar, Assistant New Delhi on 2 August 2013. Editor/Project-in-charge, were present. The meeting was chaired by Shri A. The committee agreed that it was the need Sethumadhavan, Chairman NBT, and was of the hour to apprise the youth of the country attended by Ms Sugathakumari, eminent about the life, ideals and values of Swami Malayalam poet and Padmashree awardee; Dr Vivekananda. Hence it was decided to publish Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee, writer and critic; a series of books in English, Hindi and other Prof. N.N. Pillai, Director, Bharatiya Vidya Indian languages on the life and teachings of Bhawan, New Delhi; Swami Shantatmananda, Vivekananda for the young as well as for the Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi; general readers. 4 NBT Newsletter october 2013 19th Delhi Book Fair 2013 he 19th edition of the Delhi Notably from US, Iran and TBook Fair was held from European countries. A special 23 to 31 August 2013 at Pragati seven member delegates from Maidan, New Delhi. In this China will be here to provide era of increasing move towards information regarding literary digitization and e-books, the movements in China,” said Delhi Book Fair focussed Shri Sudhir Malhotra, President on the theme of ‘Libraries FIP, at the inauguration of the and Readership’, throwing a Fair.“To engage the students, we spotlight on the role of libraries are hosting a ‘KaviSammelan’ and readership growth in the an interactive session with poets country. The government is also and a story-telling session for actively working on linking and children”, he added. modernizing more than 9000 Apart from books, a libraries through digital means number of conferences and across the country. seminars, buyer-seller meets, Organised by the Federation of Indian book releases, discussions and literary Publishers (FIP) in association with India activities for children were planned during Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the Fair. more than 250 publishers, booksellers Started in 1995, the Delhi Book and distributors, spread over 500 stalls, Fair provides a platform for business participated in the 9-day fair, which transactions, establishing new contacts, included foreign participants as well. entering into co-publishing arrangements, “The book fair will facilitate authors translation and copyright arrangements as and delegates from round the globe. well as reprinting of old and rare books. Workshop on Promoting Reading Habit
he National Book being organised in the JJ TTrust, India organised a Colony for the first time. He workshop on Reading Habit, urged NBT to organise more ‘Pathan Ruchi Karyashala’ at such book exhibitions. Smt. Bawana, Delhi, on 17 August Vijaya Kumari also praised the 2013. The Workshop was work of NBT. organised in the premises of Earlier, Shri Pradip MCD Primary Girls School, Chabbra, Dy. Director (Exh.), B-2, JJ Colony, Bawana where NBT, welcomed the students more than 200 students and spoke about the activities participated in a drawing of the Trust. competition. NBT’s mobile book Shri Narender Dutta, exhibition van at the venue Principal, MCD School, provided a wide range of its Bawana, Smt. Ved Watti, children’s publications where Principal, E-3, JJ Colony children and teachers bought MCD School and Smt. Vijaya Kumari, books of their choice. Principal, MCPS, B-2, MCD School, The winners of the competition were Bawana encouraged the children to take given away prizes, and each student was part in the event. gifted with an NBT book. The children Speaking on the occasion, Shri also gave a cultural performance. Narender Dutta said that the efforts Dr Deepankar Gupta, Asst. Director initiated by NBT are highly commendable. (Exh.) and Smt. Sunita Narotra, Assistant, He said that an event of this kind was from NBT coordinated the workshop.
october 2013 NBT Newsletter 5 NCCL Library: A Profile ational Centre for Children’s collection of over 15,000 NLiterature (NCCL) is a wing books on children’s of National Book Trust, India. It literature covering wide was established in 1993 to promote, range of subjects in 44 create, coordinate, monitor and aid languages of the world the publication of children’s literature (18 Indian and 26 foreign in Indian languages. It also provides languages). Over 50 assistance and expertise to teachers, periodicals of children’s librarians, editors, writers and illustrators literature in various by arranging creative workshops across Indian languages are also the country especially in rural areas for subscribed by the Library promoting reading habit among children. for reading and reference of the library users. The 4,000 DELNET member libraries Library has recently been re-modelled to through internet including Delhi Public give an ultra-modern look and provide Library and JNU Library. The users can quality services to the users. Located at the visit NBT’s website at www.nbtindia. ground floor at the premises of the Trust, org.in and click on Online Public Access the Library is spread over an area of 96.2 Catalogue (OPAC) section for accessing sq. mts. It has been designed keeping in NCCL Library database. mind the multifarious needs of the users. The Library is also open to school The Library has the following holdings: children for group visits. • Research and Reference: Over 600 rare Be a member of the NCCL Library. reference books to help professionals, Contact Librarian-cum-Documentation Officer, NCCL, for further details. Readers’ Club Movement scholars and researchers for their NCCL runs the Readers’ Club Movement research work, surveys etc. to promote the habit of reading at school • Media/Multi-Media: 150 CDs/DVDs NBT book awarded level. It is one of the largest reading on children’s literature, a touch screen, The book on nanotechnology movements in the world. Till date PCs and an LCD TV. in Tamil titled Nano: The Next over 35,000 Readers’ Clubs have been Revolution, published by the National established in the country. A bilingual Book Trust, India and authored by monthly magazine Readers’ Club Bulletin Prof Mohan Sundara Rajan won the is also published to foster the Movement. prestigious P.N. Appusamy Award for NCCL also organizes workshops, Best Science Book 2013. The award discussions, seminars and exhibitions for is instituted by the SRM University’s children and professionals to explore new Tamil Perayam (Academy). avenues in children’s literature and creative Dr T.R. Pachamuthu, Chancellor skills in children and participates in of the SRM University, presented international book fairs to promote Indian the award to Prof. Mohan Sundara children’s literature abroad. • Books for Children and Young Adults: Rajan at a traditional ceremony. Prof Library-cum-Documentation Centre Over 15,000 books (both fiction and M. Ponnavaiko, Vice-Chancellor and More significantly, NCCL has a Library- non-fiction) for children and young President of the Academy, was also cum-Documentation Centre with a adults on various themes from around present on the occasion. the world. Reading Room Facilities Reading tables, chairs, book shelves, library space, recessed lights, anti-skid flooring, wooden steps and appropriate ventilation for users providing an ideal atmosphere for reading. Networking NCCL Library is connected with over
6 NBT Newsletter october 2013 Books On and By Gandhi
On 2nd October, the nation celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. To promote the ideals and values that Mahatma Gandhi stood for, both in his life and in his writings, the NBT continues to publish select books on and by Gandhi. - Editor Bapu (Part I) Gandhiji and His Disciples The book is a collection F C Freitas Jayant Pandya of Gandhiji’s sketches and 81-237-1026-7 / Rs 14.00 978-81-237-1116-4 / Rs 45.00 tributes on some of the The story of Gandhi from This book is the story of eminent personalities of his birth till the Dandi twelve eminent Gandhians, his times who influenced March in pictures and their initiation and shaping him greatly. It throws light words. of their personalities by on a fascinating aspect of Bapu (Part II) the Mahatma and their Gandhiji’s personality; his F C Freitas contribution to humanity. observations and the ability to penetrate 81-237-1025-9 / Rs 16.00 Gandhi: A Life the innate goodness of human nature in This book in continuation to Part I tells Krishna Kripalani a few words. of Gandhi’s arrest following the Salt 978-81-237-0646-7 / Rs 60.00 The Mahatma and the Poet Satyagraha and ends with his assassination. Mahatma Gandhi lived, Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (Comp.) Stories from Bapu’s Life suffered and died for his 978-81-237-2201-X / Rs 65.00 (PB) Uma Shankar Joshi people. Yet it is not in 81-237-2202-3 / Rs 125.00 (HB) 978-81-237-0508-8 / Rs 19.00 relation to this country Put together from various In this book the noted alone that his life has published and unpublished Gujarati writer relates significance. Nor is it only sources, this book is some interesting episodes as a patriot or revolutionary a collection of letters from Bapu’s life. Written reformer that he will be and debates exchanged in a simple and heart- remembered by future generations. An between Mahatma Gandhi warming style, the stories interesting and absorbing account of and Rabindranath Tagore will appeal to children. the life and achievements of Mahatma between 1915 and 1941. Gandhi. Gandhi-Nehru Correspondence: A What is Hinduism? Selection Gandhi: The Writer Mahatma Gandhi Arjun Dev (Ed.) Bhabhani Bhattacharya 81-237-0927-7 / Rs 35.00 978-81-237-6125-1 Rs 95.00 (PB) 81-237-3792-0 / Rs 70.00 A selection of Gandhiji’s 978-81-237-6126-8 Rs 350.00 (HB) Gandhi’s growth as one articles drawn mainly from Spanning a period of about 26 years, this of the most influential Young India, the Harijan collection brings together personalities of modern and the Navajivan on select correspondence times is matched in no Hinduism. Written on between Gandhi and measure by his growth as a different occasions, these articles present a Nehru. Together they prolific writer of considerable influence. It picture of Hindu Dharma in all its richness, portray a strikingly unique takes us on a fascinating journey into the comprehensiveness and sensitivity to the relationship that was not inner workings of Gandhi as a writer. existential dilemmas of human existence. only personal but also Gandhi’s India: Unity in Diversity Back to the Sources: A Study of Gandhi’s political. 978-81-237-5213-6 / Rs. 40.00 Basic Education Gandhi-Patel: Letters and Speeches Gandhiji’s basic ideas Henry Fagg Neerja Singh (Comp.) underwent no change 81-237-3969-9 / Rs 45.00 978-81-237-5556-4 / Rs 60.00 (PB) during the forty years of his The title of the study 978-81-237-5557-1 / Rs 250.00 (HB) active public life, but their indicates a dissatisfaction This collection brings out expression and application on the part of its author some of the significant varied according to with much of the material correspondences between circumstances. This is that has so far been written Gandhi and Patel, their a brief anthology of on Gandhi on education. mutual respect for Gandhiji’s views. The writer attempts to construct a detailed each other and also the Pen-Portraits and Tributes by Gandhiji contextual study of the most decisive differences between the U S Mohan Rao period in the evolution of Gandhi’s beliefs two on various matters. 81-237-0260-7 / Rs 30.00 on education. october 2013 NBT Newsletter 7 obituary RNI-39456/82 Shri Pulak Biswas, an artist par excellence, Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-1-4076/12-14 passed away on 28 August 2013. Born Licenced to post without prepayment. in 1941, Pulak Biswas studied at the L.No. U(SW) 21/2012-2014 Government College of Art, Kolkata; Mailing date: 5/6 Same Month Hornsey College, London; and the Date of Publication: 01/10/2013 Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam. Recipient of UNESCO Fellowship for Advanced Forthcoming Book Fairs Studies in Graphic Design and Illustration, he was awarded the BIB plaque of the Moga Book Fair, Punjab 28 Sep.-6 Oct. 2013 Biennale of Illustration, Bratislava, Chandigarh Book Fair 13-18 Nov. 2013 Slovakia in 1999. He has held several solo Jamshedpur Book Fair 18-26 Nov. 2013 exhibitions of his works and participated in group shows in India Mumbai Book Fair 28 Nov.-3 Dec. 2013 and Europe. His works form part of several public and private Hyderabad Book Fair 30 Nov.-7 Dec. 2013 collections. He was closely associated with NBT. He has illustrated Mangalore Book Fair 4-10 Jan. 2013 a number of children’s books for NBT including A Tale of Tails, Long & Short Big & Small, Once Upon a Time, Busy Ants, Cheerful Spirits, The Wise and the Wily and the Crystal Cave. We at NBT offer Become a Member of NBT Book Club our condolences to the bereaved family. AVAIL a DISCOUNT of 20%
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 neces- sarily reflect the official views of the Trust.
Editor: Binny Kurian Editorial Associate: Kanchan Wanchoo Sharma Production: Narender Kumar
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8 NBT Newsletter october 2013