Annual Subscription Rs 5.00; 50 paise per copy November 2020 • Vol 38 No. 11

Contents NBT Celebrates FIT INDIA Movement

Online Training Course in Book Publishing 2 Webinar on Children’s Literature 2 Mahatma Gandhi and Swachchata 3 Workshop on Hindi 3 Model United Nations Conference 2020 4 Hum Fit Toh India fit! employees. The age, gender or physical Colombo International o runs the slogan encouraging people to disability did not deter the enthusiasm of follow a fitness regime for the health of the participants. Book Fair S 4 each individual and the nation. Following The winners were awarded NBT the call of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India publications like Quest of Olympic Gold, Book Review 5 for ‘Fit India Movement’, National Book Adventure Sports, Cricket aur Bharat, etc. Trust, India is organizing a month-long The month-long campaign will feature Excerpts 6 NBT’s Fit India campaign. various sporting events like Badminton, The campaign began with a ‘Freedom Volleyball, Table Tennis and Cricket. The NBT Publications for Children 7 Run’ competition on 1 October 2020. The campaign is also being complemented participants had to complete a distance of with the videos of encouraging words by Obituary 8 2.5 kilometers within Vasant Kunj, New NBT officials to spare at least half-an-hour Delhi, starting from the NBT premises daily for exercise. These videos are being Pick of the Month to Biodiversity Park and back. The event posted at various social media platforms saw the participation of over 100 NBT by NBT.

Lakhan’s Story Amrita Dasgupta Illustrations by Barkha Lohia 978-81-237-9272-9; Rs 35 NOVEMBER 2020 NBT NEWSLETTER 1 Online Training Course in Book Publishing played a crucial role in the development of the industry. “The Publishing Course of today will create skilled publishing professionals for tomorrow,” said Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT. To create a pool of trained professionals for the publishing industry, said Shri Malik, National Book Trust, India is organising its annual Training ational Book Trust, India is Course in Book Publishing, and with the Norganising the second edition of its changing times, the digital version has three-month long online training course been able to involve more participants The leading professionals who are part in book publishing from 26 September from across the country in a bigger of the faculty include Shri Yuvraj Malik, 2020 to 20 December 2020. format. Shri Pranav Singh, Shri Manish Arora, “This online course by NBT will Interacting with the participants, Shri Shri Sridhar Balan, Shri Vivek Mehra, Shri encourage and help in developing skills Malik said that regular online assignments G S Jolly, Shri Prabhat Kumar, Ms Sumita of the publishing aspirants,” said Prof. will form part of the course and study Mukherjee, Prof. Nandini Sahu, Shri Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman, material will be provided to students Kalyan Banerjee, Shri M A Sikandar, Shri NBT at the virtual inauguration of the before the scheduled online lecture. He Kumar Vikram, Shri Himanshu Giri, Shri programme. also said that participants can serve as Balendu Dadhichi, Shri D Sarkar and Ms While addressing the participants interns at NBT after the completion of the Arunima Roy. about the Course, Prof. Sharma said that course. Concluding the session, Ms Neera the course will make them academically Jain, Chief Editor & Joint Director, NBT sound and aware of the technicalities urged the participants to benefit from this involved in various aspects of the course and be the publishing professionals publishing. He also talked about how the that they wish to be. publishing industry has grown in India The session was moderated by Ms with the development of education and Carolyn Pao, English Editor and the course printing technology. He also observed that is being coordinated by Shri Narendra writings in different Indian languages have Kumar, Production Officer, NBT.

Webinar on Children’s Literature

ational Book Trust, India Jaiswal, well-known editor, Dr Nwas the knowledge partner at Renu Srivastava among others also a two-day Webinar on Children’s spoke on the occasion. Literature, organised by Salila During the second session, Sanstha, Salumber from 10-11 the panelists discussed about October 2020. the various aspects of one-act “The importance of children’s plays. The panelists included Shri literature is like a child at home,” Govind Sharma Sangria, Shri said Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma, Umesh Chaurasia, Shri Rajnikant Chairman , NBT at the inaugural Shukl and Shri Rakesh Chandra. of the webinar. Prof. Sharma said In the third session, the children that a literature is not complete Dr Vikas Dave, Chairman, Madhya who participated in one-act play without children’s literature. He added Pradesh Hindi Sahitya Akademi presided writing competition, presented their that while one can feel the varied emotions over the function. He focused on the stories. in literature for adults, whereas children’s importance of the one-act plays. He said On the concluding day, various literature is simple and pure. One can that one-act plays are very popular as they discussions on different forms of stories find positivity and inspiration from the have all the elements of acting. in children’s literature like environment, words, emotions and thoughts expressed Dr Vimla Bhandari, chairperson biographies, fairy tales, among others were in children’s literature. and founder, Salila Sansthan; Shri Anil held.

2 NBT NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020 Mahatma Gandhi and Swachchata National Book Trust, India was included Ms Parmeshwari Bagri, the Knowledge Partner at an Chairperson, Kendriya Bhandar; event on ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Shri Mukesh Kumar, Managing Experiments with Swachchata - Director, Kendriya Bhandar; Key to Prosperity’. The event was Shri Mayank Agarwal, Director organised by Kendriya Bhandar General, Doordarshan; and Shri and Centre for Strategy and Vikas Sharma, Director & CEO, Leadership at Plenary Hall, Vigyan CSL. Bhawan, New Delhi on 2 October A bouquet of books published 2020. by NBT on Mahatma Gandhi were In his inaugural address, Dr presented to all the dignitaries. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union NBT has published about 25 Minister of State for Development of Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book titles on and by Mahatma Gandhi in more North Eastern Region and Minister of Trust, India talked about Mahatma than 22 languages. An exhibit of these State for Prime Minister’s Office talked Gandhi’s philosophy on Cleanliness and books was also on display at the Vigyan about the importance and relevance of Swachchata, and how Cleanliness in our Bhawan for the benefit of the visitors. Cleanliness in today’s times. He also everyday lives by each individual will The event was aimed at celebrating shared many lesser-known anecdotes of ensure the rise of our Nation as a premier and appreciating the visionary ideas of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. country in the world. He also said that Mahatma Gandhi on various aspects of Speaking on the occasion, Shri Cleanliness is a journey... We have to keep cleanliness. doing it. Healthy surroundings, healthy body, healthy mind leads to productivity and prosperity. He shared the many initiatives of National Book Trust, India, and the steps taken in following Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts and philosophies; in addition to publishing books on and by Gandhiji. Other Speakers at the event

Workshop on Hindi ational Book Trust, India Because of which there came a need Norganised a workshop on ‘How to standardize Hindi among its to Use Standard Hindi in Official users. Work’ (Sarkari Karya Mein Manak The workshop was organized in Hindi Vartani Ka Prayog) at NBT the presence of Ms Neera Jain, Chief Conference Hall, Vasant Kunj, New Editor & Joint Director, NBT. Delhi on 8 October 2020. Earlier, Shri Rakesh Kumar Dr Kumud Sharma, well- Yadav, Deputy Director and known educationist and Principal, Rajbhasha Adhikari, welcomed the Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Shamli, Uttar guests. Pradesh conducted the workshop, The programme was conducted where she highlighted several common errors that usually creep in the by Shri R K Singh, Hindi usage of Hindi. Consultant. Talking about the common errors, Dr Kumud Sharma said that India being a multilingual country, one can see the varied influence of different languages and dialects, etc. while using the Hindi. Over the years, she added, there is a tendency to forget the various nuances of the language.

NOVEMBER 2020 NBT NEWSLETTER 3 Model United Nations Conference 2020

ational Book Trust, India was the introduced the Conference 2020. In NKnowledge Partner at the Model addition, Ms Anne Lee Seshadri, Public United Nations (MUN) Conference 2020. Affairs Officer, Consulate of the USA, The virtual conference was organised by Chennai gave the inaugural Address; Shri the University Law College, Bengaluru, Samarth Pathak, Communications Officer from 2 - 4 October 2020. Shri Yuvraj for South Asia, UNODC and Shri Kiri Malik, Director, NBT, was the Chief Atri, Assistant External Relations Officer, Guest at the inaugural function where he United Nations High Commissioner also launched the Event Booklet. for Refugees delivered their addresses as peacekeeping, peace-building, nation In his address Shri Yuvraj Malik, spoke Guests of Honour; Prof. Dr. Venugopal building and above all - that of working about the concept of ‘Global Citizen’ as K.R., Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Bangalore for humanity and individuals as a whole propounded by Mahatma Gandhi, and University delivered the Presidential and not for any particular nationality. as a messenger of non-violence, justice Address; and Prof. Dr. V. Sudesh, Former Earlier, Prof. Suresh V. Nadagoudar, and peace. Shri Malik also talked about Principal, Dean & Chairman, University Principal, University Law College the role of United Nations and associate Law College proposed the vote of thanks. welcomed the guests. organisations in the world working towards On this occasion, Shri Naman Vankdari President, ULC-MUN,

Colombo International Book Fair Pledge to Fight Against Covid-19 he 22nd Colombo International Book Fair was held at Bandaranaike Memorial As part of Jan Andolan for Covid-19 TInternational Conference Hall, Colombo from 18 – 27 September 2020. Shri Appropriate Behaviour Campaign Vidura Wickramanayake, State Minister of National Heritage, Performing Arts & Rural launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of Arts Promotion, Sri Lanka inaugurated the Fair. Over 150 publishers, both local and India, the employees of National Book foreign participated in the Fair and displayed their books in over 400 stalls. Trust, India took the pledge to follow National Book Trust, India also participated in the Fair and displayed over 200 Covid-19 safety norms on 8 October publications from different publishers across the country at its stall. Books of different 2020. The pledge was administered by genres including science & technology, social science, educational books, children’s Ms Neera Jain, Chief Editor & Joint books, biography, art & culture were displayed. Director, NBT. Several banners have been displayed at the NBT premises to encourage employees to wear masks, follow social distancing and wash hands with soap at regular intervals.

4 NBT NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020 Book Review

National Book Trust, India, has published a book titled The Code of Life: Revolutions in Genetics written by Mohan Sundara Rajan. Gyan Vitaranam, a magazine for teens and youth, has published its review by Shri S.S. Pillai in its September-October 2020 issue. Herein we reproduce the review. - Editor

his book in the Popular Science series the total genome, a finding which initially The work traces the ongoing efforts to Tof NBT, tells the story of fascinating led to the mistaken idea that most DNA discover genetic links to diseases such as revolutions in the study of genetics. This is is junk. Further discoveries debunked the cancer in the hope of getting correct and a timely publication, as it lucidly provides junk theory and showed that the so-called timely diagnosis and finding cures. the biological background for a lay reader junk is in fact an intricate web of control Most recent innovation to understand human immunity and the over the genetic code. The book then takes up the most recent efforts Involved In producing a vaccine The genetic code is no longer innovation viz., gene editing, which is against Covid-19. considered merely as a template for considered a biological breakthrough of The author, one of our regular producing exact copies of itself but a script this century. For the first time in history, it contributors, is an acclaimed national controlled by ‘epigenetic’ markers. Further was discovered that humans can not only award-winning science writer with explorations showed that inheritance is sequence and read the genetic code but numerous popular science books to his not DNA-centric and that features like rewrite it as well to fix malfunctions. credit. intelligence are not pre-determined. Ideas The book describes the gene-editing The manual deals with the chemical of racial superiority based on skin colour technique, called CRISPR-Cas9 as well as language of life and its functions, known were also demolished. its risks and hastens to explain the follow- as genetics. Genes, indicated by the code, Other discoveries exposed the vast up discoveries of less risky technologies. control everything, be it our skin colour range of inherent differences among Equally mind-boggling is the remarkable or blood sugar. They determine which individuals, though not all differences are discovery of regeneration of human organs proteins are made and when, which is the harmful. The differences between man using one’s own stem cells. The opus very basis of our life. and woman are only biological, which do highlights the historic first achievements The title traces the discoveries in not support any comparisons in terms of that have successfully exploited the genetics from the experiments on plants superiority between the sexes. Describing potential of stem cells to re-grow desired done by Gregor Mendel, an Austrian these developments, the book goes on to body parts, promising a new life to many monk in the 17th century. Several show how genetic differences extend to victims of age and accident. remarkable insights into the human genes one’s immunity as well. Another chapter explains the Artificial were revealed in the following centuries; Intelligence (AI) and machine learning the most notable being the discovery of in rediscovering the genome for better the double helix shape of human DNA health care. Another chapter explains by Watson and Crick in 1953. The the work of Craig Venter, a pioneer of publication highlights the remarkable genome sequencing, of creating synthetic contribution of Rosalind Franklin, whose biological parts for constructive purposes. first X.ray diffraction image was ‘used’ The last chapter calls for a by her colleague, Crick, to announce comprehensive study of India’s genetic the discovery, which was recognised for variety, with safeguards in the use of personal a Nobel Prize. Rosalind remained ‘the genetic data. It provides an overview of the wronged heroine of DNA’, unrecognised wide range of world class institutions in the in a male-dominated evaluation system. country that could undertake research in It is good to remember her contribution, genetics in line with the latest trends. when her 100th birth anniversary is The developments reported are up- celebrated this year. to-date, even as several basic concepts are After the human genome was 978-81-237-9118-0 explained. The illustrations, including sequenced in 2003 in the ten-year ‘Human Rs 270 many in colour, are well chosen and Genome Project’, several revolutionary presented with detailed captions. In short, discoveries were made. The Project led to a The pioneers of gene-editing, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, the chronicle is a masterpiece of science realistic revision of the number of human writing useful to a wide range of readers genes. This, in tum, threw up a puzzle whose work is highlighted in the book, have won this year’s Nobel Prize in including students, researchers, health viz., the genes that code for proteins were managers and journalists. found to occupy less than two per cent of Chemistry.

NOVEMBER 2020 NBT NEWSLETTER 5 Excerpts

Manoj Das is one of India’s best loved storytellers. Born in 1934, he started to write in Odia when he was just 14 years old, and the very first short story he wrote (1950) is considered a classic in that language. NBT India has recently published a book titled Legend of the Golden Valley. Herein we reproduce an excerpt from the book. - Editor

Star-fruit on the Blue Mountain given to us! Perhaps nobody else in our talking?” asked Raju, rather puzzled, for Raju stopped singing and looked at land yearns for it either. But I’d love to he knew that the princess would never lie. the smiling girl, no less amazed than she sing.” “We grow just as flowers grow; we was. He suddently remembered that they derive strength from the sunlight and the “Please go on, please!” said the girl were not human beings, after all! He also breeze. Why, do you feel hungry here?” impatiently. remembered what the hermit had once told “Indeed I don’t. In any case, you can Raju gazed at the girl, almost unable him. “No animal can ever talk. And look eat the fruit even though you did not feel to take his eyes off her. at men. They can talk; but instead of truly hungry!” “Is it not rather strange?” he talking, some of them hiss like serpents, “We cannot. In this land one just murmured at last. some gibber on like apes and some like to cannot do what one ought not to do,” “What is strange?” bark—all in the name of talking!” explained the princess. “I see you for the first ever time, Raju now realised how lucky human A deer was running by. The princess but your smile seems so familiar to me! beings are. They can smile, they can shouted at it, “O sweet, sweet deer, will Did you ever visit my land known as the sing, they can dare do wonders. But you find out if the plant on the blue Golden Valley?” asked Raju. some¬thing renders all their powers and mountain has borne its fruit for the year?” The girl laughed. “No. I have never virtues meaningless. The hermit said— The deer at once climbed the nearest had any need for going out of my own that is ignorance. hillock. It stood on its hind legs, yet its valley. Don’t you find this valley quite “O Princess, to tell you in confidence, eyes did not reach the plant on the blue beautiful?” she asked in her turn. I am out to meet the deity of the land mountain. At a hint from it, a rabbit “I could not have imagined a beyond. But I do not know the way. Will climbed onto its head and stretched its more beautiful land. Wait, I have just you please show it to me? I promise to neck to survey the plant, but in vain. At remembered something interesting. I often bring for you the boon that would enable a signal from it, a squirrel climbed onto escaped into the forest and passed hours you to sing!” said Raju. its head, but since it too could not see the playing there amidst bushes and brooks. “Let me also tell you in confidence plant, it called up a bird on a tree at hand. A very colourful bird would come down that atop the blue mountain yonder there The bird trilled the message out to an eagle as though tearing through the clouds and is a unique plant that bears only one fruit that was circling above. The eagle dived perch on a tree. It would go on repeating: in a year called the star fruit. If one eats towards the star plant and sent down the ‘In a faraway land there is a princess—a that, one can cross into the land beyond,” information, “The fruit should be ripe in princess!’ At last that is what its trill meant said the princess. a day!” to me. At once a smiling face would float “Why haven’t any of you ever eaten “Excellent. You can be here for a day before my vision. You remind me of that the fruit?” The princess laughed. “We do and then eat the fruit and brave into the vision.” not eat as you human beings do,” she land beyond,” the princess told Raju. “Of course, I am the princess of this revealed with a smile. Raju had amazing experiences during land. But I have often heard in my sleep “Don’t you say so! How do you grow? his short stay there. He understood the kind of sound you were making with How do you get strength for walking and that it was the land of the ever-content. your voice now. How much have I wanted No doubt, the dwellers of the land had to do something similar! But I am told that surprising powers. They could command in the land beyond there is a deity. Unless the hue of the moonlight—whether it we receive a boon from her we just cannot should be bluish or greenish or golden or do it. And none of us can cross over there silvery. They dreamt of charming things to obtain the boon!” she said with a sigh. only and if they painted their dreams and “But I was only singing !” if they so wished, the paintings sprang to “Only singing? I wish I could do that life. Thus they had novel castles, beautiful only once—for all my worth!” cried out lakes surrounded by trees abounding in the princess. flowers, and any number of strange things. “I don’t understand why you don’t But Raju felt rather bored... Raju sing! Your voice is so sweet!” got the impression that they did not even “We cannot sing! That virtue is not ISBN 978-81-237-9140-1; Rs 70 know what hope is.

6 NBT NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020 NBT Publications for Children

Diwali Little Toys Ravi Paranjape Arvind Gupta Rs 20.00 12 pp Rs 65.00 60 pp This book is about the festivities A step-by-step, well-illustrated manual which associated with Diwali, the festival of children can use to prepare innovative, low- lights, decorating the house, exchange cost and eco-friendly toys from materials of sweets, wearing new clothes, puja, like discarded tetra packs, camera roll cases, fireworks and Bhai Duj. soda straws and other junk. Festivals of India Some Street Games of India (A compilation) Mulk Raj Anand Rs 65.00 92 pp Rs 45.00 32 pp A compilation of the major festivals A recapitulation of some of the common games played on the celebrated in India. Profusely illustrated streets of India by young children. with colour photographs. ISBN 978-81-237-1099-0 ISBN 978-81-237-2248-1 String Games Find the Half Circle Arvind Gupta Badri Narayan Rs 45.00 64 pp Rs 35.00 16 pp The book provides step-by-step instructions A concept book, beautifully illustrated, with illustrations for making diverse and teaching a child to find the semi-circular interesting string figures. The fun-filled shapes. figures created by using strings of all sorts ISBN 978-81-237-8830-2 not only augment memory and imagination From Bone to Stone of young children but also enrich their eye- Karen Haydock hand coordination. Rs 60.00 28 pp ISBN 81-237-1721-0 An illustrated story of the fossilisation The Voyage of Trishna of a dinosaur which was killed around T P S Chowdhury 67 million years ago in a fight with Rs 18 79 pp another dinosaur. The book also has The book is an interesting and detailed account of the voyage of many activities for children besides a chart showing the evolution ten members of the First Indian Expedition which sailed around of life on earth. the world in a yatch, Trishna, covering 55,000 km in 470 days. ISBN 978-81-237-2665-6 The text is complemented with photographs, sketches and maps. Joy of Making Indian Toys ISBN 978-81-237-1694-7 Sudarshan Khanna Tricky Topical Ultimate Crosswords Rs. 85.00 126 pp Neeru Das & Saikat Das This simple activity book teaches two Rs. 135.00 164 pp things, namely, how to make 101 handmade Educating and entertaining, this unique toys which are playthings even today in book of crosswords is designed to engage remote corners of our country and how and challenge some of the best crossword toys, simple in design and based on science aficionados, word game enthusiasts as well and technology, can be made at home with as those interested in word meanings and discarded materials. usage. ISBN 978-81-237-2244-3 We Indians Jungle Fun Mehroo J Wadia Priya Nagarajan Rs 30 24 pp Rs 120.00 38 pp This small attractive workbook emphasises national integration. A fun filled activity book—full of games, brain teasers, stories It describes the dress, language and interests of people belonging and puzzles—that will keep children occupied for hours on end. to the various states of India. ISBN 978-81-237-3547-4 ISBN 978-81-237-1097-6

NOVEMBER 2020 NBT NEWSLETTER 7 Obituary RNI-39456/82 Postal Regd. No. DL-SW-1-4076/2018-20 Kapila Vatsayayan, renowned scholar Licenced to post without prepayment. and cultural administrator passed away on 16 September 2020. An exponent of L.No. U(SW)21/2018-20 classical dance forms, Vatsayayan wrote 20 Mailing date: 5/6 Same Month books including Traditional Indian Theatre Date of Publication: 01/11/2020 published by NBT. Besides, she was an active participant at several literary events Heart Disease and the Layman published by National Book including book releases, panel discussions, Trust, India. etc organized by the Trust. ANP Ummerkutty, former Director Eminent litterateur and critic Bauribandhu of the Kerala Language Institute and Kar passed away on 19 September 2020. former Vice Chancellor of Calicut He wrote several books on Odia literature. University passed away on 9 September His compilations including Chandrasekhar 2020. A Sahitya Akademi award winner, Rathanka Shrestha Galpa, Krishna Prasad Dr Ummerkutty had written over 50 Mishranka Shrestha Galpa and Dagarathi books in English and Malayalam on Dasanka Shrestha Prabandha have been science, education, oceanography, published by National Book Trust, India. biology, biography, current events, regional studies, culture etc. His book Science of the Oceans has Eminent Cardiologist, Padmavati been published by NBT. Sivaramakrishna Iyer passed away on 29 August 2020. She was the first woman cardiologist of India. She was director of the National Heart Institute, Delhi, and Just Read the founder president of the All India Heart Foundation. An author of many research articles, one of her most popular books

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

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8 NBT NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2020