A Perspective on the Indian Publishing Industry

By Tahira

Books have always been regarded as an important source for the development and promotion of human values. They not only record new ideas but also impart values and work towards the overall development of the individual.

Counted among the top ten industries in the world, the publishing industry of India has an estimated market value of INR 10000 crores; and India ranks third in the English Language publishing right after UK and USA.

Though with the advent of the Internet and most importantly the Digital Media becoming stronger than ever before, the traditional publishing industry has undergone several changes. However, the printed book is still sought after by many Indians. The ever-increasing book clubs, book stores in swanky shopping malls and new generation Indian writers becoming a hit – makes the publishing industry still ongoing.

Moreover, the industry saw a boom with more and more international names foraying into the Indian market. From school books to Higher Education – medical publishers and so on – the Indian publishing industry has undergone several changes – more so with the integration of New Media/ Digital Media.

Despite threats from other forms of digital media and the international publishing industry bearing the heat – the Indian segment of the same seem to be enjoying a new height. According to experts, the millennium old Indian mindset (in most cases) event-based promotion of the reading culture and a sudden spurt in the national and regional level literary festivals (Jaipur Literature Festival, Kolkata Literary Festival and others) have bolstered the growth of the industry. It continues to draw a new segment of readers. This was evident form the footfall recorded at the 2013 World Book Fair (New Delhi); the World Book Fair also transacted several international deals.

A recent study by the Frankfurt Book Fair, revealed that the Indian publishing industry is already registering an annual growth of 15% which is estimated at nearly $2 billion.

With a proliferation of international publishing houses, the publishing industry is in a good shape in India. The country today has some of the best international players in the market with some Indian publishing houses reaching international standards in production and design quality.

Since the 1950s, book publishing in India has undergone a metamorphosis. Today, with the amalgamation of digital media (social networking/ Facebook pages/blogs of publishing houses) the Indian publishing industry is experiencing a new high. Interestingly, India presents an interesting scenario where the old (traditional printed books) and the new (e-books) co-exist.

Though e-books are more lucrative, but going by the market trends, it can be said that the Indian publishing industry is here to stay in the coming future.

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An Open Letter To Mr. Milind Deora

Dear Mr. Deora,

Thanks for a great article in TOI of August 14, 2013. It was enlightening to hear the views of one of our elected representatives on a topic that’s close to the hearts of many a youngster in this country. However, some points you raised are worthy of a debate, the benefits of which you’ve extolled in your article, and hence a response was warranted. I will try to summarize your main points so as to keep the response closely tied to the article.

Point #1: Social media platforms do not allow for healthy debate, while our Parliament does.

This point of view is expected and unsurprising within the small minority amongst us who’re on the other side of the “Great Divide of Government of India”, but isn’t substantiated by facts. I call it the Divide because our governance system, from the Parliament at the top right down to the beat constable and peon in a sarkari office, is extremely hard to approach and get service from for a common citizen, which is the very reason for its existence. For the vast majority of the population of this country, it’s almost like a government for itself, by itself, and of itself.

Therefore, we do not hold the Parliament’s ability to hold healthy debates in any high esteem when we read reports that the number of hours that our Lok Sabha sits during its five-year term has been falling steadily, and reached the worst ever record in the 15^th Lok Sabha (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-29/india/38902758_1_lok-sabha-budget-session-sittings). Not only that, this Lok Sabha is also on its way to achieving the dubious distinction of having passed the fewest bills in independent India’s history.

So where does the common citizen go to express their anguish about a non-functioning government? Social media. For the first time, there is a platform that allows every individual the opportunity to be heard by millions of other people, and we’re going out there in hordes to talk about the pain we all on this side of the Divide experience every single day. For the average person, Twitter and Facebook are less about popularity and approval ratings like you mentioned, and more about spreading the word about their experiences and finding common cause with others.

Point #2: Changes that result due to outbursts enabled by social media are not well thought-through

You reference the Arab Spring and Iranian Awakening and the Brazilian protest, but miss the protests on the streets of New Delhi during Anna Hazare’s campaign and after the 2012 brutal gangrape incident. But you make a valid point. Protests by people are usually looked upon as a threat by established governments, and the point being made is missed for the noise, and slowly the protest transforms into an us-vs-them battle. However, did our government react any differently during the protests staged in India? Did we ever get closer to getting a Lokpal bill enacted or a corruption-free government? Did we ever get closer to having the streets of this country safe for our sisters and daughters? Unfortunately no. And this lack of solution-building is not attributable to the use of social media, but to the absence of a sensitive, humble, and engaged leadership within our government.

Point #3: Social media encourages pretence, showmanship, and shallow posturing

Assume social media doesn’t exist in our country. Walk out on the streets like a common man and watch how politicians, top bureaucrats, and the rich and powerful of this country move. You will see beacons, blaring sirens, police and personal security pushing everyone else aside, or stopping them altogether. From the posh NDMC areas, try walking towards other parts of Delhi where the top government officials of our country do not live. You will notice that broad, tree-lined, spotlessly clean boulevards give way to congested, filthy, broken roads that have people, vehicles, animals all crammed into every inch of space possible. If this isn’t pretence, showmanship, and posturing, what is? It’s not about the tools we use, but who we are and how we think that creates the vices that you ascribe to social media.

You are a young and well-educated leader of this country, and we are looking to you to bring a change in our country. What we need is very simple – equal access to basic amenities like clean water, air, food, and adequate housing, and equal opportunity to fulfill one’s dreams, for every single citizen of this country. We hope you care enough for your country and its people to work towards this goal, and will not get lost in the distractions that power in our country carries with it in heavy doses.

Regards,

Sarvesh

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Indian Street Cricket From The Eyes Of Jack Hoyle – 3

The final part of the three-part series on Street Cricket in India from Jack Hoyle. Watching these pics and his travel, one thing is sure, he definitely has a good book in his camera. Looking forward to much more from him. 

A young boy shows off his cricket ball as a game gets underway in a temple courtyard, New Delhi.

A youngster waits in the wings as the older boys show him how it’s done.

Next man in.

It’s not just boys who are mad about cricket, plenty of girls are too. A group of boys and girls play in the shadow India Gate, Delhi.

A young boy takes a large stride as the ball goes past the bat and towards India Gate, Delhi.

The ball goes flying over the keepers head and towards the government buildings.

Keep watching this space because Jack is going to give us his presentation on Myanmar next, his last place of stay. 

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Indian Street Cricket From The Eyes Of Jack Hoyle

Jack Hoyle is writing a book on the madness that cricket incites in Indian minds. He is a fascinating photographer and here he produces street cricket in India while he travelled the country during the IPL. Here’s presenting the first part of the three-part series. Enjoy 🙂

In the backstreets of New Delhi a group of youths squeeze a quick game in.

In Varanasi a group of boys find space between the winding alleys. If the wicket keeper misses it’s a long chase to retrieve the ball out of the Ganges.

The emblem of a street cricket club in Varanasi.

A man sits oblivious as a young cricketer strikes the ball, while playing on the banks of the Ganges, Varanasi.

A typical Sunday in Khajuraho; the streets are closed and the adults look on as the young boys take each other on.

A dubious action, but you can’t fault the effort as a young bowler comes steaming in.

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तू खूबसूरत है बहोत

By Syed Bilal

तू खूबसूरत है बहोत

जानती है क्या !

संगेमरमरी मूरत है तू

पहचानती है क्या !

पलकों में तेरी सुबह की

आहट कुबुलाती है

नैन जब खुलते है तेरे

तो सुबहा  मुस्कुराती है ,

मेरी सुबहा और शाम है तू

जानती है क्या !

मेरी सुराही मेरा जाम है तू

पहचानती है क्या !

तू चाँद की करवट है

नदिया का पनघट है

दरिया की सरहद है

जानती है क्या !

रोते हुए चेहरे पे

हसी की दस्तक है

पहचानती है क्या !

आँखें है तेरी दो दीये

रोशन सा इनमे नूर है

मुड़कर जो देखे जिस तरफ

दीवाली छोड़ जाती है

जानती है क्या !

बाहें फैला जो खड़ी होती तू

बारिश तुझपे उतर आती है

पहचानती है क्या !

आपका :

बिलाल

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Arvind Kejriwal Vs Sheila Dikshit And The Twitterati

 

As the news broke of Arvind Kejriwal deciding to take on Delhi’s Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the twitterati went abuzz. Here’s a few of the best ones in our collection of best tweets. 

Dilip K. Pandey (@dilipkpandey): सुना है शीला जी अब तैयारी में हैं मैदान छोड़ने की 🙂

Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty): विजय गोयल के खिलाफ क्यों खड़े हो, मच्छर मारने को बोफोर्स नही चलाते

Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty): झूम के निकली है आंधी,अब पत्तों की खैर नही, सिर्फ भ्रष्ट ही घबराना हमसे,सबसे अपना बैर नही #AKvsSheila

Chanchal Sharma (@chanchal_in): डरते नही है हवाओं से हम,सिरफिरे तूफ़ान हैं, ज़रा दूर से टकराव यारों,इस नदी में उफान है #AKvsSheila

And some were real strong ones as well

Deepak Singh (@deepaksingh83): अब नई-दिल्ली विधान सभा के मतदाता तय करेंगे की वह किसके साथ हैं। “आप” के साथ या पाप (कांग्रेस) के साथ #AKvsSheila

Ankit Lal (@ankitlal): इतिहास गवाह रहेगा, कैसे दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री को विपक्ष के सबसे कद्दावर नेता ने सामने से चुनौती दी! भाजपा में है इतनी हिम्मत? #AKvsSheila

Dr. Kumar Vishwas (@DrKumarVishwas): Ha ha ha कांग्रेस और भाजपा की यारी में अब एक ही नियम चलता है कि , मैं न सही तो तू सही और तू नही तो मैं सही, पर केजरीवाल नही #AKvsSheila

KJS Arora (@KanwaljtSingA): Waaaah Ustaad waah !! Boliye Arvind ji, kitni taaqat chahiye aap ko hum sab se?

The Patriot (@Djjpn): हमने आजतक 65 वर्षों में सड़ी-गली और मौकापरस्त राजनीति देखी थी इसलिए अरविन्द की नेतिकता और आदर्श की राजनीति को देख लोग अचंभित और उत्शाहित है।

Now you all know that its not going to be easy for Arvind Kejriwal but as they say that for those who speak the truth the opponent does not even exist. As far as I am concerned, by now you must be sure which side do I stand.

 

 

 

 

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जलता जीवन, जलते तुम हम

By Atul Singh

जलता ज़ीवन जलते तुम हम,

ख़त्म हो गई राहें सब ।

आगे है घनघोर अँधेरा

दुःख की बदली छाई है ।

साथ मिलाकर छोड़ गए सब,

क्यूँ तू संग मेरे आई है ॥

क्यूँ करू तुझसे प्रणय निवेदन,

क्या तू जीवन सार मिला ।

किया तिरस्कार तूने है अब तक,

क्यूँ अब तेरा प्यार जगा ॥

तू ठहरी अलका का वैभव,

पर अवनी का मैं भी पुजारी हूँ ।

प्रेम सिखा कर चली गई जो,

उसका मैं आभारी हूँ ॥

प्रेम है क्या ये तू क्या जाने ,

मीरा की वो मूरत होती ।

जिससे मैंने किया प्रेम था,

प्रेम की सूरत वैसी होती ॥.

क्यूँ डाले बाहों के घेरे ,

करती मुझको आलिंगन ।

मैं तो हूँ एक ठहरा पानी,

क्यूँ तू खोजे उसमे जीवन ॥

उसमे ज़ीवन नही मिलेगा,

फूल प्रेम का नही खिलेगा ।

जलता जीवन मेरा अब तक,

जो प्रेम करेगा वो भी जलेगा ॥

” जो प्रेम करेगा वो भी जलेगा “

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Why is Delhi the Rape Capital of the Country?

Mili Sharma ponders over what makes Delhi the capital of this heinous crime.

We’ve been hearing/reading/watching a lot about the rape incidents off late. I’ve been trying to figure out two things – 1) why does Delhi/NCR ranks no.1 in rape incidents as compared to southern India 2) who are these rapists.  After following the news through different media and talking to the people around me, I got an answer to this. Most of these rapists belong to either small town or other rural areas. I hardly see any Delhi-ites involved in this crime.

These places have lesser job opportunities as compared to Delhi/NCR. The education system is not very good as the standard of living is low due to less income opportunities. That’s why people from these places have been migrating to bigger cities in search of jobs. The people from smaller cities are usually very conservative when it comes to women. They prefer their women stay indoors, keep themselves covered in meters of cloth and stay away from other men around. They keep their women in the same way as a goldsmith keeps his gold (in lockers) so that no one sees it and tries to steal it. This is supposed to be a part of their ‘culture’.

When people from such places come to cities like Delhi, they see women outside their homes (which to them is beyond the acceptable boundary), working independently, wearing a variety of clothes, decking up and interacting with both the sexes. Their cultural shock in realizing that they are misfits is hidden under the garb of modernity, which in turn, is depicted by ‘getting’ a girl. Such men try to approach women even if they do not show any interest in such men. When they do not get any response, they try to force themselves on the women by sending unwanted messages, hooting at them, passing lewd remarks etc. When these acts remain ignored for long, these men feel encouraged and the resultant action is a kind of aggression which is unthinkable and unjustified.

In my opinion, such people should not be allowed into Delhi (that is, if the police is incapable of taking any other action). There is no harm in throwing these people out of Delhi. It is very similar to a teacher asking a student to leave the class if he’s creating nuisance or a father asking his rowdy son to leave the family as he is no more in the control of his family or even within self-control. Look at the changed the picture of Mumbai. This has made Mumbai a safer place for women. I have female friends living there who are not scared of going out alone during late hours. Needless to say, in Delhi I can’t image of going alone somewhere after sunset. Even a 5 year old is not safe here anymore. We all have witnessed this recently and that too, so soon after Damini’s case.

At times I wonder will there ever be a time when a girl would live her life without fearing for her safety and feel proud of being a woman instead of being scared.

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