Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison thinks it is a huge advance. It helps her carry several books on her travels, choose and download more books, read in the yard or on the beach, and increase text size for clarity. The object of her fascination, Amazon's Kkndle, makes it possible wirelessly to download books, magazines, and newspapers over a high-speed telecom data network. Whenever, wherever, within the United States (at this stage). The first generation of e-readers - the Kindle, Sony's Reader Digital Book, iLead, StareBook, Jinke, and the soon-to-be launched Readius - promises to redefine reding and the way books, newspapers, and other content are delivered. Digital technologies tend to get more hyped than adopted initially but their uptake is bound to rise as prices fall. Interestingly, when Amazon launched its $399 Kindle e-reader for the U.S., it sold out in five hours. The credit for this extraordinary reader response should go equally to the display technology such devices use - a black and white e-ink-based electronic paper screen that comes closest to printed paper in readability - and fast access on the go ("buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute"). Then there is the bonus of being able to pack 200 books in a very portable 285-gram device; a facility to annotate text; music to heighten the reading experience; a built-in dictionary; SD card memory expandability; and good battery life.
The design goal for an e-reader is to enable the book lover to become absorbed in the story and the device to 'disappear'. Portable computers may facilitate e-book downloads but the e-reader is differentiated by e-ink. It has no backlighting and can therefore be read even under bright light; as a downside, however, the most popular devices do not yet offer colour and cannot handle video. But books and newspapers can do without either, and a strain-free reading experience adds to their appeal. That is not to say that these features will not appear in the future; some companies are working to add them and have demonstrated the capability. If the Kindle has persuaded publishers to launch over 100,000 book titles, 170 newspapers, and over 250 popular blogs on the new platform, it is due to its ability to reach a wider audience - and new readers - with a different experience. Some may be tempted to see in all this the impending end of print, but as author John Seely Brown cautioned, that would be erroneous 'endism' produced by blinkered euphoria. Printed books and newspapers will continue to exist, even as itinerant bibliophiles and people of the 'always-on' generation immerse themselves in e-ink content.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Feb.21, 2008 (Editorial)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Books Unlimited
Book Review-6 : MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF WORSHIP
"MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF WORSHIP"
Meaning and Explanation by Swami Achalananda
Compiled by Swami Muktidananda
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Yadavagiri, Mysore-570020, Karnataka, 2007, Paperback, pp.213, Rs.50/-
Science without its practical application, confined to books and academic discussions, is of little use to a commoner. Religion without practice, too, confined to scholarly expositions and dry theories, is of little use to a commoner. A man of religion must be a man who practices religion, does spiritual practices earnestly and steadily.
Among all the well-known spiritual practices, ritualistic worship (puja) occupies the most honourable place. Puja is a combination of a number of visible and invisible activities which a worshipper takes up for his or her spiritual benefit. While ‘doing’ a puja is easy, doing it with awareness and total involvement is not. One requires understanding of what one is doing. This is what this book attempts to do – to explain the meaning of puja and mantras in order to make the whole process of puja spiritually fruitful and fulfilling.
The book is based on the compiler’s class notes taken during the classes conducted in 1985 by Swami Achalananda, a scholarly monk living in Mysore Ashrama then. The Swami was well versed in the theory and practice of ritualistic worship. His short introduction to the book ably highlights the purpose of the book. The compiler, Swami Muktidananda (then a novice) has carefully preserved the class notes, giving them the present shape.
Based on the earlier book on similar subject (Worship of Sri Ramakrishna published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai), the present book gives English meaning (including a word-by-word meaning) of the mantras along with their transliteration. A detailed flowchart describing successive steps of puja as well as lit of Upacharas (acts or things offered in order to honour a deity) add additional value to the book. “Become Divine in order to worship the Divine’ – the idea underlying all steps in puja – has been well brought out through the scholarly annotatio0ns and explanations. However, a note on the symbolic meaning of mudras (which the book skillfully describes but does not explain) could have been added and one looks forward to it in the second edition.
Four appendices by Swamis Nikhilananda, Prameyananda and Bhajanananda, all eminent monks of the Ramakrishna Order and well-known for their insights on this subject, also make the book valuable.
The book has an attractive get-up and is neatly printed. Besides being useful for the spiritual aspirants, lay as well as monastic, the book is an excellent addition to the existing literature on this subject.
Reviewed by Vedanta Kesari Office
Courtesy: Vedanta Kesari, March 2008
Meaning and Explanation by Swami Achalananda
Compiled by Swami Muktidananda
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Yadavagiri, Mysore-570020, Karnataka, 2007, Paperback, pp.213, Rs.50/-
Science without its practical application, confined to books and academic discussions, is of little use to a commoner. Religion without practice, too, confined to scholarly expositions and dry theories, is of little use to a commoner. A man of religion must be a man who practices religion, does spiritual practices earnestly and steadily.
Among all the well-known spiritual practices, ritualistic worship (puja) occupies the most honourable place. Puja is a combination of a number of visible and invisible activities which a worshipper takes up for his or her spiritual benefit. While ‘doing’ a puja is easy, doing it with awareness and total involvement is not. One requires understanding of what one is doing. This is what this book attempts to do – to explain the meaning of puja and mantras in order to make the whole process of puja spiritually fruitful and fulfilling.
The book is based on the compiler’s class notes taken during the classes conducted in 1985 by Swami Achalananda, a scholarly monk living in Mysore Ashrama then. The Swami was well versed in the theory and practice of ritualistic worship. His short introduction to the book ably highlights the purpose of the book. The compiler, Swami Muktidananda (then a novice) has carefully preserved the class notes, giving them the present shape.
Based on the earlier book on similar subject (Worship of Sri Ramakrishna published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai), the present book gives English meaning (including a word-by-word meaning) of the mantras along with their transliteration. A detailed flowchart describing successive steps of puja as well as lit of Upacharas (acts or things offered in order to honour a deity) add additional value to the book. “Become Divine in order to worship the Divine’ – the idea underlying all steps in puja – has been well brought out through the scholarly annotatio0ns and explanations. However, a note on the symbolic meaning of mudras (which the book skillfully describes but does not explain) could have been added and one looks forward to it in the second edition.
Four appendices by Swamis Nikhilananda, Prameyananda and Bhajanananda, all eminent monks of the Ramakrishna Order and well-known for their insights on this subject, also make the book valuable.
The book has an attractive get-up and is neatly printed. Besides being useful for the spiritual aspirants, lay as well as monastic, the book is an excellent addition to the existing literature on this subject.
Reviewed by Vedanta Kesari Office
Courtesy: Vedanta Kesari, March 2008
MEDITATION ACCORDING TO YOGA-VEDANTA
MEDITATION ACCORDING TO YOGA-VEDANTA
By Swami Siddheswarananda
pp.192
Rs.35/-
The subject of meditation will hold the attention of the human mind as long as there is a striving on the part of human beings to plumb the depths of their personality. Swami Siddheswarananda’s treatment of the subject displays a mastery of a rare type. This book is sure to provide inspiration and true guidance to aspirants in their spiritual life where the practice of meditation is an all-important factor.
Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5, Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata-700014
www.advaitaashrama.org
By Swami Siddheswarananda
pp.192
Rs.35/-
The subject of meditation will hold the attention of the human mind as long as there is a striving on the part of human beings to plumb the depths of their personality. Swami Siddheswarananda’s treatment of the subject displays a mastery of a rare type. This book is sure to provide inspiration and true guidance to aspirants in their spiritual life where the practice of meditation is an all-important factor.
Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5, Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata-700014
www.advaitaashrama.org
PRECEPTS FOR PERFECTION
PRECEPTS FOR PERFECTION
A Compilation of Teachings of the Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna
pp.200
Rs.65/-
The words of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna provide an invaluable source of spiritual guidance, for each disciple had experienced God and knew whereof he spoke. There is power in their words. Hence the present volume is intended not to be a book to be read through in one sitting.
Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5, Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata-700014
www.advaitaashrama.org
DHARMA AND ITS PRACTICE
DHARMA AND ITS PRACTICE
A Vedanta Kesari Presentation
Price Rs.50 + Postage Rs.22 for single copy
No request for VPP entertained
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, 31, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600004
A reprint of the annual number of The Vedanta Kesari 1984, it contains articles by eminent monks and scholars on various aspects of dharma and its practice in today’s world of fast life and technological changes. The book tries to define and explore dharma in all its varies hues and colours.
A Vedanta Kesari Presentation
Price Rs.50 + Postage Rs.22 for single copy
No request for VPP entertained
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, 31, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600004
A reprint of the annual number of The Vedanta Kesari 1984, it contains articles by eminent monks and scholars on various aspects of dharma and its practice in today’s world of fast life and technological changes. The book tries to define and explore dharma in all its varies hues and colours.
Channelling Youth Power : Facets of Youth Power and How to Harness its Potential
Channelling Youth Power :
Facets of Youth Power and How to Harness its Potential
A Vedanta Kesari Presentation
Price Rs.45 + Postage Rs.22 for single copy
No request for VPP entertained
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, 31, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004
Like a ruthless river, youth is a tremendous power. It needs to be channeled. It is only in youth that the best energies of a man/woman are put to best use. This, however, does not happen on its own. One needs guidance, right effort and constant care.
Channelling Youth Power deals with all aspects of this vital need. Contains articles by monks of the Ramakrishna Order, eminent thinkers and youth.
A must for all youth and others in search of guidelines for channeling their energies for self-improvement and noble life.
Facets of Youth Power and How to Harness its Potential
A Vedanta Kesari Presentation
Price Rs.45 + Postage Rs.22 for single copy
No request for VPP entertained
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, 31, Ramakrishna Math Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004
Like a ruthless river, youth is a tremendous power. It needs to be channeled. It is only in youth that the best energies of a man/woman are put to best use. This, however, does not happen on its own. One needs guidance, right effort and constant care.
Channelling Youth Power deals with all aspects of this vital need. Contains articles by monks of the Ramakrishna Order, eminent thinkers and youth.
A must for all youth and others in search of guidelines for channeling their energies for self-improvement and noble life.
Book of the day-8: A CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HINDUISM
A CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HINDUISM (in three volumes)
By Swami Harshananda
New Release
Covers all aspects of Hindu Religion, Philosophy and Culture
Printed on natural shade, superior quality maplitho paper
Binding in full calico with multi-colour cover
Size: 24 x 18 cm – Each volume contains approximately 700 pages
Contains 200 line drawings and 60 photographs
Subsidised Price on Release: Rs.1500/- (US $ 150)
Special Pre-Publication Offer: Rs.1000 (US $ 100)
(Courier charges: India Rs.200/- USA & Europe: $ 60
Last date for booking at Pre-publication price : March 31, 2008-02-27
Contact:
Ramakrishna Math
Bull Temple Road, Bangalore-560019
Phone: 080-26616161, 26616060
e-mail: rkmblr_publi@vsnl.net
ramakrishnamathblr@dataone.in
By Swami Harshananda
New Release
Covers all aspects of Hindu Religion, Philosophy and Culture
Printed on natural shade, superior quality maplitho paper
Binding in full calico with multi-colour cover
Size: 24 x 18 cm – Each volume contains approximately 700 pages
Contains 200 line drawings and 60 photographs
Subsidised Price on Release: Rs.1500/- (US $ 150)
Special Pre-Publication Offer: Rs.1000 (US $ 100)
(Courier charges: India Rs.200/- USA & Europe: $ 60
Last date for booking at Pre-publication price : March 31, 2008-02-27
Contact:
Ramakrishna Math
Bull Temple Road, Bangalore-560019
Phone: 080-26616161, 26616060
e-mail: rkmblr_publi@vsnl.net
ramakrishnamathblr@dataone.in
New Books-11:
1. Gandhi’s Philosophy and the Quest for Harmony
Anthony J.Parel
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge House, 4381/4, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002
2. A Winning Attitude: To Change Your Life, Change Your Attitude
Rosie Hamilton-McGinity
Rs.125/-
Jaico Publishing House, 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai-400001
3. Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year
James Allen
Sterling Publishers P Ltd, A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110020
Rs.200/-
4. Snacks for the Soul
Over 150 inspiring stories for mind, body and spirit
J.P.Vaswani
Jaico Publishing House, 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai-400001
Rs.250/-
Courtesy: The Hindu, Feb.26, 2008 (Book Review Page – New Arrivals)
Anthony J.Parel
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge House, 4381/4, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002
2. A Winning Attitude: To Change Your Life, Change Your Attitude
Rosie Hamilton-McGinity
Rs.125/-
Jaico Publishing House, 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai-400001
3. Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year
James Allen
Sterling Publishers P Ltd, A-59, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110020
Rs.200/-
4. Snacks for the Soul
Over 150 inspiring stories for mind, body and spirit
J.P.Vaswani
Jaico Publishing House, 121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai-400001
Rs.250/-
Courtesy: The Hindu, Feb.26, 2008 (Book Review Page – New Arrivals)
Friday, February 8, 2008
Book Review-5: 'Book of Verse' by Ruskin Bond
Book Review: 'Book of Verse' by Ruskin Bond
Penguin Books India P Ltd
11, Community Centre
Panchsheel Park
New Delhi-110 017
Rs.160/-
Reviewed by Prema Nandakumar
There has always been a poetic elegance in Ruskin Bond’s fiction which he has been blending in choice flavours for nearly six decades. It is then natural that here is also some of the humdrum conversationalese of prose fiction in his poetry. For the first time he has chosen the medium of verse for publication. Why so? He says the poet was always in him when he had wished to become a writer, “but having to make a living from the written world, he became a writer chiefly of prose, for as we all know, you can’t make a living writing poetry.”
Nature
Apparently an established can sell poetry. Ravi Singh knows his market well. Blest be the publishing industry! Else we would not have had this Panchatantram animalia and allow nature to be our teacher.
“Most lives run riot –
But the bud
opens silently.
And flower gives way
to fruit.
So must we search
For the stillness
Within the tree.
The silence within
the root.”
Certainly a lesson for us caught in this cacophonic world of human affairs. Bond has helpfully divided his poems under various headings like love and nature and we enjoy the vignettes with a smile. Tikkies and chat eaten on the sly; second-hand goods shop that has “tales of hundred failure/And ten hundred broken dreams”; granny climbing a tree; and if we thank the Lord for having given us mangoes and fishes to eat, it falls within reason for a bedbug to express gratitude to the Creator for providing it with luscious human things, “those nooks and crannies/Where the blood runs sweet.”
Charmed circle
The charmed circle of the Bond-narrative has held us in thrall all these years. The mountains generous with purring streams and crumbling buildings, forlorn cemeteries and eerie ghosts have become our companions.
The Book of Verse flings alike a net of charm. The pages are brief, sometimes an entry is just four lines, but the rasa flows into our heart – be that of a child, a youth, a middle-aged commuter or a toothless ancient, bent over his walking stick.
Bond is the universal writer who makes us relax and watch the lone fox dancing, a bat flying quite low, the firefly in the room, the hooting owl, the snail, the snake, kites, and tigers; oh, is so much of flora and fauna left on the Earth in spsite of man’s acquisitive nature and deadly pesticides? Good to know that you can still hug a deodar, blow a kiss to the cherry, and muse upon the tapping of an oak tree.
The verse cluster, “A Song or Lost Friends” has seven sections for the seven notes of music. An autobiographical fragment carrying the private tragedies of a very public World War, Bond’s aethesis leaves us waving silently:
“Goodbye, Goodbye!
Into the forest’s silence,
Outside the dark tunnel,
Out of the tunnel, out of the dark….”
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 5, 2008 (Book Review)
Penguin Books India P Ltd
11, Community Centre
Panchsheel Park
New Delhi-110 017
Rs.160/-
Reviewed by Prema Nandakumar
There has always been a poetic elegance in Ruskin Bond’s fiction which he has been blending in choice flavours for nearly six decades. It is then natural that here is also some of the humdrum conversationalese of prose fiction in his poetry. For the first time he has chosen the medium of verse for publication. Why so? He says the poet was always in him when he had wished to become a writer, “but having to make a living from the written world, he became a writer chiefly of prose, for as we all know, you can’t make a living writing poetry.”
Nature
Apparently an established can sell poetry. Ravi Singh knows his market well. Blest be the publishing industry! Else we would not have had this Panchatantram animalia and allow nature to be our teacher.
“Most lives run riot –
But the bud
opens silently.
And flower gives way
to fruit.
So must we search
For the stillness
Within the tree.
The silence within
the root.”
Certainly a lesson for us caught in this cacophonic world of human affairs. Bond has helpfully divided his poems under various headings like love and nature and we enjoy the vignettes with a smile. Tikkies and chat eaten on the sly; second-hand goods shop that has “tales of hundred failure/And ten hundred broken dreams”; granny climbing a tree; and if we thank the Lord for having given us mangoes and fishes to eat, it falls within reason for a bedbug to express gratitude to the Creator for providing it with luscious human things, “those nooks and crannies/Where the blood runs sweet.”
Charmed circle
The charmed circle of the Bond-narrative has held us in thrall all these years. The mountains generous with purring streams and crumbling buildings, forlorn cemeteries and eerie ghosts have become our companions.
The Book of Verse flings alike a net of charm. The pages are brief, sometimes an entry is just four lines, but the rasa flows into our heart – be that of a child, a youth, a middle-aged commuter or a toothless ancient, bent over his walking stick.
Bond is the universal writer who makes us relax and watch the lone fox dancing, a bat flying quite low, the firefly in the room, the hooting owl, the snail, the snake, kites, and tigers; oh, is so much of flora and fauna left on the Earth in spsite of man’s acquisitive nature and deadly pesticides? Good to know that you can still hug a deodar, blow a kiss to the cherry, and muse upon the tapping of an oak tree.
The verse cluster, “A Song or Lost Friends” has seven sections for the seven notes of music. An autobiographical fragment carrying the private tragedies of a very public World War, Bond’s aethesis leaves us waving silently:
“Goodbye, Goodbye!
Into the forest’s silence,
Outside the dark tunnel,
Out of the tunnel, out of the dark….”
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 5, 2008 (Book Review)
New Books-10:
1. Bodh Gaya
Frederick M.Asher
Oxford University Press
YMCA Library Building
Jai Singh Road
New Delhi-110001
Rs.395/-
2. Icons: Men & Women who shaped Today’s India
Ed. By Anil Dharker
Roll Books P Ltd
M-75, G.K.II Market
New Delhi-110048
Rs.395/-
3. Vedantic Way to Peace and Happiness
Swami Adiswarananda
Jaico Publishing House
121, Mahatma Gandhi Road
Mumbai-400 001
Rs.275/-
4. Revelations of Christ
Paramahamsa Yogananda
Anandha Sangha Publications
B-10/8, DLF Phase-I
Gurgaon
Haryana-122002
Rs.295/-
5. Without Fear : Life and Trial of Bhagat Singh
Kuldip Nayar
Harper Collins Publishers
1-A, Hamilton House
Connaught Place
New Delhi-110 001
Rs.395/-
Courtesy; The Hindu, Madurai, February 5, 2008 (Book Review)
Frederick M.Asher
Oxford University Press
YMCA Library Building
Jai Singh Road
New Delhi-110001
Rs.395/-
2. Icons: Men & Women who shaped Today’s India
Ed. By Anil Dharker
Roll Books P Ltd
M-75, G.K.II Market
New Delhi-110048
Rs.395/-
3. Vedantic Way to Peace and Happiness
Swami Adiswarananda
Jaico Publishing House
121, Mahatma Gandhi Road
Mumbai-400 001
Rs.275/-
4. Revelations of Christ
Paramahamsa Yogananda
Anandha Sangha Publications
B-10/8, DLF Phase-I
Gurgaon
Haryana-122002
Rs.295/-
5. Without Fear : Life and Trial of Bhagat Singh
Kuldip Nayar
Harper Collins Publishers
1-A, Hamilton House
Connaught Place
New Delhi-110 001
Rs.395/-
Courtesy; The Hindu, Madurai, February 5, 2008 (Book Review)
Friday, February 1, 2008
Delhi Book Fair by Anita Joshua
The 18th edition of the biennial New Delhi World Book Fair, billed as the world’s second largest such event, will open on Saturday.
Announcing this at a press conference here, National Book Trust (NBT) Director, Nusrat Ahmed, said this time it would be a trade-oriented event and not just a platform for book sales.
A highlight this year will be an international rights exhibition featuring works on and by Mahatma Gandhi, in the 60th year of his martyrdom. Titled, “In Words and In Deeds”, the exhibition will have on display 1000 titles in Indian languages. There will also be some published in French, German, Finnish, Spanish and Brazilian.
NBT has put together an Annotated Rights Catalogue. It features annotations, bibliographic details, information on the availability of translation rights, copyright status, and contact details for rights, permissions and licences. The purpose according to Ms Ahmed, is to have an estimate of the quantum of writings on Gandhiji across the world and facilitate copyright negotiations.
With 2008 being declred the A highlight this year will be an international rights exhibition featuring works on and by Mahatma Gandhi, in the 60th year of his martyrdom. Titled, “In Words and In Deeds”, the exhibition will have on display 1000 titles in Indian languages. There will also be some published in French, German, Finnish, Spanish and Brazilian.
NBT has put together an Annotated Rights Catalogue. It features annotations, bibliographic details, information on the availability of translation rights, copyright status, and contact details for rights, permissions and licences. The purpose according to Ms Ahmed, is to have an estimate of the quantum of writings on Gandhiji across the world and facilitate copyright negotiations.
With 2008 being declared the Year of Russia in India, the Russian Federation will be the Guest of Honour. Housed in a special hall, the Russian pavilion will have over 80 publishers displaying their publications. Russia will host panel discussions, literary programmes and children’s activities.
Anzhelika Zhukova, director general of IMA Dialog which is putting together the Russian component, said 30 writers from Russia would attend. Half of them are part of the official delegation; the rest are coming on their own.
Ahead of the Fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair will host an international conference. NBT is buoyed by this, as it points to India’s emergence as an Asian center of publishing on a par with China.
The NBT Director drew attention to the number of requests that hve come from publishers for visa facilitation. Participation from 23 countries is confirmed.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, January 30, 2008
Announcing this at a press conference here, National Book Trust (NBT) Director, Nusrat Ahmed, said this time it would be a trade-oriented event and not just a platform for book sales.
A highlight this year will be an international rights exhibition featuring works on and by Mahatma Gandhi, in the 60th year of his martyrdom. Titled, “In Words and In Deeds”, the exhibition will have on display 1000 titles in Indian languages. There will also be some published in French, German, Finnish, Spanish and Brazilian.
NBT has put together an Annotated Rights Catalogue. It features annotations, bibliographic details, information on the availability of translation rights, copyright status, and contact details for rights, permissions and licences. The purpose according to Ms Ahmed, is to have an estimate of the quantum of writings on Gandhiji across the world and facilitate copyright negotiations.
With 2008 being declred the A highlight this year will be an international rights exhibition featuring works on and by Mahatma Gandhi, in the 60th year of his martyrdom. Titled, “In Words and In Deeds”, the exhibition will have on display 1000 titles in Indian languages. There will also be some published in French, German, Finnish, Spanish and Brazilian.
NBT has put together an Annotated Rights Catalogue. It features annotations, bibliographic details, information on the availability of translation rights, copyright status, and contact details for rights, permissions and licences. The purpose according to Ms Ahmed, is to have an estimate of the quantum of writings on Gandhiji across the world and facilitate copyright negotiations.
With 2008 being declared the Year of Russia in India, the Russian Federation will be the Guest of Honour. Housed in a special hall, the Russian pavilion will have over 80 publishers displaying their publications. Russia will host panel discussions, literary programmes and children’s activities.
Anzhelika Zhukova, director general of IMA Dialog which is putting together the Russian component, said 30 writers from Russia would attend. Half of them are part of the official delegation; the rest are coming on their own.
Ahead of the Fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair will host an international conference. NBT is buoyed by this, as it points to India’s emergence as an Asian center of publishing on a par with China.
The NBT Director drew attention to the number of requests that hve come from publishers for visa facilitation. Participation from 23 countries is confirmed.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, January 30, 2008
Kolkata Book Fair – Staff Reporter, The Hindu
“It looks like a war is being waged against books,” West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said at a “symbolic” inauguration of the Kolkata Book Fair here on Tuesday.
A Division Bench of the Kolkata High Court ruled in response to a public interest litigation that the Fair, which was supposed to begin from January 29, could not be held at the venue previously decided due to environmental concerns and possible traffic congestion.
“My reason or logic fails to explain as to how books can pollute society”, Mr.Bhattacharjee said. “No civilized society can accept this and together, we must find a way out of the situation.”
American poet, Christopher Meryll, carried out the “symbolic” inauguration by sounding the gong.
American novelist, Paul Theroux said the ‘alternative Book Fair’ was the best that could be managed under the circumstances.
“We are meeting secretly like early Christians because we are all book-lovers and readers,” he said.
Eminent Bengali writer, Sunil Gangopadhyay said the Book Fair was not just an emotional matter but it involved the livelihood of a lot of people, especially the poor.
“But it is unfortunate that we are inaugurating a Book Fair that does not have any books”, he said.
While steps should be taken to make it pollution-free with conditions imposed on the organizers, the Fair itself should be returned to the maidan.
Tridib Chattopadhyaya, General Secretary, Publishers and Book-sellers Guild, who organized the Fair, requested Mr.Bhattacharjee to consider setting up a permanent venue for the Book Fair.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Jan.30, 2008
A Division Bench of the Kolkata High Court ruled in response to a public interest litigation that the Fair, which was supposed to begin from January 29, could not be held at the venue previously decided due to environmental concerns and possible traffic congestion.
“My reason or logic fails to explain as to how books can pollute society”, Mr.Bhattacharjee said. “No civilized society can accept this and together, we must find a way out of the situation.”
American poet, Christopher Meryll, carried out the “symbolic” inauguration by sounding the gong.
American novelist, Paul Theroux said the ‘alternative Book Fair’ was the best that could be managed under the circumstances.
“We are meeting secretly like early Christians because we are all book-lovers and readers,” he said.
Eminent Bengali writer, Sunil Gangopadhyay said the Book Fair was not just an emotional matter but it involved the livelihood of a lot of people, especially the poor.
“But it is unfortunate that we are inaugurating a Book Fair that does not have any books”, he said.
While steps should be taken to make it pollution-free with conditions imposed on the organizers, the Fair itself should be returned to the maidan.
Tridib Chattopadhyaya, General Secretary, Publishers and Book-sellers Guild, who organized the Fair, requested Mr.Bhattacharjee to consider setting up a permanent venue for the Book Fair.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Jan.30, 2008
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