SEMINAR ON
GLIMPSES OF INDIAN PUBLISHING
HELD ON 7 OCTOBER 2010 AT FRANKFURT

The Federation of Indian Publishers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the German Book Office New Delhi, organized a Seminar on ‘Glimpses of Indian Publishing’ on 7 October 2010 at Hotel InterContinental, Frankfurt.

In his welcome address, Mr. Anand Bhushan, President, FIP, said India is a great book producing nation and has a vibrant world of book publishing spread throughout the vast country in a number of modern languages most of which have their roots in Sanskrit, the mother of Indian languages. Today Indian publishing is one of the greatest in the world and can be counted among the first seven publishing nations. While translation is a major way in which our books can reach the reading public in other countries, Indian publishers associated with English language publishing also look forward to the arrangements in terms of co-publication with other publishers. Indian publishers are keen to explore new areas and a large number of them are participating regularly in International Book Fairs.

Mr. Anand Bhushan said FIP, in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation, a prestigious wing of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been organising the Delhi Book Fair since 1995 which has since come to be recognised as the biggest annual cultural event and book bonanza in the history of Delhi and is keenly awaited by publishers and book lovers all over the country. The Fair has since established itself as a many splendoured national book event of international significance and because of this many foreign book publishers also participate in this Fair. He said the next Delhi Book Fair will be held from 25 December 2010 to 2 January 2011 and requested the international publishers present at the Seminar to participate in this Fair along with other publishers from their country in as large numbers as possible.

Mr. Anand Bhushan said FIP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the German Book Office New Delhi, is now organizing the Seminar on ‘Glimpses of Indian Publishing’ for which we have the privilege of having some very learned speakers who are experts in their fields. The Seminar should be able to give an impetus to the understanding of India as expressed through publishers in the country as well as international publishers who will share their views on the reception of books from India in other parts of the world. It would also help in putting forward whatever best the Indian Publishing has to offer and also in structuring a dialogue with the international publishers. He was sure, the deliberations at the Seminar will be immensely useful for all the participants.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Asoke K. Ghosh, past President and Chairman, International Relations Committee of FIP, referred to Indian publishing as a giant in slumber which has now awaken and is ready to take its rightful place in the comity of nations. He said India is producing very good books reasonably priced in the field of STM which have become best sellers in the international market. Thereafter, the Seminar commenced. The various sessions at the Seminar dealt with ‘STM and Higher Education Books’; Trade Books; Children’s Books; and Art and Illustrated Books. Prominent among the speakers at these sessions were Mr. Ajay Shukhla, Vice-President and Managing Director, Tata McGraw Hill Education Pvt.Ltd.; Ms. V.K. Karthika, Editor-in-Chief, Harper Collins Publishers India; Mr. Chad W. Post, Publisher, Open Letter Press; Ms. Shobha Viswanath, Publishing Director, Karadi Tales Company Pvt.Ltd.; Ms. Renate Reichstein, Vice President, Avj (association of children’s book publishers); Mr. Bikash De Niyogi, Director, Niyogi Books; and Ms. Annette Kulenkampff, Managing Director, Hatje Kantz Verlag. Lively discussions took place between the speakers and the audience after each session.

Present at the Seminar, among others, were Mr. Herman P. Spruijt, President, International Publishers Association, Mr. Jens Bammel, Secretary General, IPA, officials of the IPA, Mr. & Mrs. Olav Stokkmo, Secretary General of IFRRO, Ms. Claudia Kaiser, Director International Department, Frankfurt Book Fair, a number of officials of the Frankfurt Book Fair; Dr. Annette Thomas, Managing Director, Macmillan, Dr. Stefan Von Holtzbrinck, Chairman, Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH; Mr. Kevin Fitzgerald, CEO, Copyright Licensing Agency of UK, officials of the South African Publishers Association and Cape Town Book Fair, Ms. V. Meera, Regional Director, ITPO in Frankfurt; leading publishers and buyers from France, Germany, UK and USA, apart from the Indian publishers present in Frankfurt.

More than 70 participants attended the Seminar which was appreciated by one and all as extremely useful. The deliberations and interaction between the international publishers will go a long way in strengthening the business relations between Indian publishers and German and other European publishers.

The Seminar was followed by a Reception-Dinner.