New Delhi: The Ministry of Culture is organizing a unique “Festival of Libraries 2023”, held on the 5th – 6th August 2023 at Hall No. 5 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Two-day festival. Vice President of India, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar will grace the Valedictory Ceremony of the event. The festival will also highlight iconic libraries from across the world in order to initiate a conversation on the modernization and digitization of libraries in India.

This festival is a part of the second phase of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to foster the development and digitization of libraries and cultivate a culture of reading in India. It aims to facilitate the formulation of action-oriented policies for the development of Model Libraries in India, right down to the village and community levels.

The festival will also mark the launch of a special ranking system for libraries across India, further promoting excellence and innovation in the library sector. The event will culminate with a valedictory function which will be graced by the Vice President of India, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Noteworthy highlights include the launch of a crowd-sourced Directory of Libraries and the signing of a Tripartite MoU between three prominent libraries: Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna; Rampur Raza Library, Rampur; and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Arabic Persian Research Institute, Tonk, for long term collaborative events, commencement of celebration of 250 years of the Rampur Raza library, Launch of the Sassy Library Series with the plot based on Rampur Raza Library, and the release of a set of Cursive Writing Books in the 22 vernacular languages.

The Festival of Libraries is a unique event that aims to engage and inspire participants from the entire ecosystem of libraries. The festival will commence with an inaugural function being presided over by President of India, along with the launch of new initiatives and publications.

The event will include roundtable discussions and panels where participants can explore library best practices from Indian states and libraries worldwide. There will be engaging conversations with organizers of literary festivals, young authors, publishing houses, and more. Special sessions will focus on schemes for libraries and their collections, including National Missions on Libraries Manuscripts and Archives.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience 10 captivating exhibitions showcasing Cartographic archives, Calligraphy Types & Cursive Writing Styles in 22 vernacular languages from across India as well as Tribal fonts through theme-based exhibitions.

Another important feature will be Archives, Oral Histories & their Exhibition: There will be sessions on digitization of archives with special emphasis on private archival collections. An exhibition on rare archival collections, and illuminated manuscripts has also been planned.

Drawing Rooms: There will be four theme-based drawing rooms set up, one each for book-author sessions, digital display, flip books and podcasts; human library project and Indian Culture Portal.

The Children’s Zone will have special hands-on activity zones for children with Readathon, Build-a-Bookshelf, Treasure Hunt, Organize-Your-Home-Library etc. to inculcate the habit of reading and to enable them to develop a relationship with books, reading, writing, and speaking.

The event aims to bring together stakeholders across the board, from librarians & academics to district collectors of 100 aspirational districts & directors of model libraries to develop a roadmap for encouraging Libraries to become the Drawing Rooms of the Community and for the Readers to emerge as future Leaders, in consonance with the spirit of a country that reads, is a country that leads.

The government’s National Mission on Libraries (NML) launched in 2014 further underscores its dedication to enhancing libraries across the country. This mission develops model libraries, connect district libraries with digital networks, and prioritize libraries in economically backward districts.

President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts today (August 3, 2023) at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that literature connects with people and also connects people with each other. She stated that only those literatures and arts are meaningful which were created and presented by rising above ‘I’ and ‘mine’. She added that translation of major works of all Indian languages ​​into other languages ​​would further enrich Indian literature.

The President said that literature has shown a mirror to humanity, saved it and also taken it forward. Literature and art have preserved sensitivity and compassion, that is, have preserved the humanity of humans. Writers and artists are entitled to admiration for being participants in this most sacred campaign for the protection of humanity.

The President said that literature gave strength to the ideals of our freedom struggle. In every corner of the country, many writers gave expression to the ideals of freedom and renaissance. Novels, stories, poems and plays written in the period of Indian renaissance and freedom struggle are popular even today, and they have a wide influence on our minds.

The President said that in a world facing many challenges, we must find effective ways to build greater understanding among peoples of different cultures and beliefs. Storytellers and poets have a central role in that effort because literature has the unique ability to connect our experiences and to transcend differences. She said that we should use the ability of literature to reveal our common destiny and strengthen our global community.

The President said that progress of tribal brothers and sisters is necessary for India to become a developed nation. Tribal youth also want to fulfil their hopes and aspirations. It should be our collective endeavour that they become partners in development while preserving their culture, ethos, customs and natural environment.

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu will visit Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) tomorrow (August 3, 2023) to inaugurate ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts, being organised by the Ministry of Culture in association with Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi respectively.

Report by Ranjana Niraula, Kathmandu: SSP Manoj Kumar KC’s book “Enhancing Policing in Nepal” released . His recent operations include fake citizenship case, betting, after-death insurance fraud of foreign employment workers etc. This book is useful for people interested in Policing, research and strategic action approach.

Security personnel need to expand their studies and understanding – Inspector General of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar
Kathmandu, Inspector General of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar has said that police should understand the law, society and change rules and for that it is necessary to enlarge their study and understanding perception.
Senior Superintendent of Police on Friday at Nepal Police Headquarters. Inspector General of Police Kunwar addressed the book release ceremony ‘Enhancing Policing in Nepal, A Human Security-Informed Approach, Concepts & Implications’ written by Manoj Kumar KC.
Inspector General of Police Kunwar succeeded in taking time to contribute to intellectual and technical sector while in police service. KC’s dedication and dedication was exemplary. In the traditional understanding of the people, the police means carrying shields, sticks and guns in the field, but this book will be successful to some extent and Nepal Police is capable of not only on field duty but also in intellectual field duty, he noted that this book release ceremony’s message . Also, he expressed that the book will be an important document for Nepal Police and other security agencies in the country and abroad.
On the occasion, Inspector General of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar, retired Nepal Army Rathi Balanand Sharma and Dr. President of Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cambodia. Emma Lesley had released the book.
Retired Rathi Balanand Sharma of Nepali Army and Dr of President of Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cambodia. Emma Leslie expressed her views on the book security agency and said it would be useful for those involved in investigation. Author of the book, Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr. expressing welcome opinion at the ceremony. Manoj Kumar KC had made a brief presentation on the topic of the book, measures adopted for research.
Armed Police Inspector General Raju Aryal, Chief Investigation Director of National Investigation Department Hutraj Thapa, Retired Inspector General of Police, Professor of Kathmandu University, Additional Inspector of Nepal Police and Armed Police Forces, Retired Police Additional Inspectors General of Police, Retired Police, Senior Police Officer Rs, journalists of different media There was a presence of including.

New Delhi: University of York confered honorary degree to man behind annual iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, entrepreneur of the arts, Sanjoy Roy.

Sanjoy is Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, which produces festivals all over the world, including the world’s largest free literary gathering, the annual Jaipur Literature Festival.

Sanjoy is a founder-trustee of Salaam Baalak Trust, working to provide support services for street children in Delhi where over 130,000 children have benefited from education, training and residential services.

An award-winning director, Sanjoy works closely with various cultural industry bodies in India and is co-chair of the Art and Culture Committee of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He is a former President of Event and Entertainment Management Association and is part of the Earth Day Network’s official Global Advisory Committee for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020.

Sanjoy has lectured at and works in collaboration with leading universities across the world.

In the 1890s, New Zealand’s most ‘English’ of cities was home to Christian, socialist and humanitarian organisations. “They were idealistic and progressive groups with shared goals for the betterment of society, and there was a lot of crossover in their memberships,” says Lovell-Smith.

After a 1909 Defence Act made military cadet training compulsory for boys aged 14 and over, three new groups formed in Christchurch to oppose the growing militarism. Two of these, the Anti-Militarist League and the National Peace Council, protested lawfully through letter writing campaigns, public talks and debates, and the distribution of pamphlets. The third organisation, The Passive Resisters’ Union, conducted a programme of civil disobedience that saw hundreds of young men nationwide refuse compulsory military training. Many were imprisoned for non-payment of fines.

At the onset of war, voluntary enlistments in New Zealand were high. But as casualties rose and the horrors of battle became known, the government found it harder to supply the number of soldiers promised to Britain. When this prompted the introduction of conscription in 1916, hundreds of New Zealand men declared their refusal to fight on political, religious and moral grounds. Nationwide, 286 men were imprisoned as conscientious objectors.

While no women activists were imprisoned for opposing the war, Lovell-Smith emphasises the vital role they played. She links female leadership within the peace movement to Christchurch’s Canterbury College, forerunner to the University of Canterbury (UC), for encouraging women students and graduates in the 1880s and 90s, suggesting that “it became much harder to argue that women were inferior when they were demonstrating their equality so effectively.”

At the same time, Canterbury College and other New Zealand educational institutions were strongly militaristic: male students disrupted peace movement meetings and the only student at Canterbury College to refuse military service was immediately excluded from lectures.

Lovell-Smith’s book grew out of research she undertook as lead writer for “Voices Against War”, an online resource coordinated by the Disarmament and Security Centre, also based in Christchurch. The project was supported by UC’s School of Humanities and Creative Arts with the website (www.voicesagainstwar.nz) developed by UC Arts Digital Lab. For both projects she drew extensively on newspaper archives of the period, especially the published reports of military board hearings, court martials and trials for sedition. Another key resource was the archive of Christchurch resident Charles Mackie, Secretary of the National Peace Council, held at Canterbury Museum. Lovell-Smith was also able to access letters and diaries from private family collections but found it harder to source anecdotal material about the dissenters’ experiences post-war.

“There was a huge social stigma attached to being a conscientious objector. And the men didn’t often speak about their experiences as prisoners,” she says. “They were so aware that what they’d been through did not compare with the horrors of warfare.”

With the new secondary school history curriculum due to focus greater attention on national and regional history, Lovell-Smith’s book is a timely addition to our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand in wartime. She hopes readers will gain greater insight into the period and see that bravery and strength can take many forms.

“The book provides numerous ‘case studies’ of why individual men chose to resist military service, and what happened to them as a result. It also shows the support such men had from the peace movement and other groups who resisted war.”

‘I Don’t Believe in Murder’: Standing up for peace in World War I Canterbury by Margaret Lovell-

Smith is published by Canterbury University Press, RRP $45, Softbound, 240 x 170mm, B&W,

336pp), ISBN: 978-1-98-850336-3, available in bookstores and through Canterbury University Press.

The program covers a wide range of essential aspects  of the publishing industry. Participants will delve into market trends, explore strategies for attracting talented writers, identify marketing techniques, and acquire additional skills to flourish in the dynamic landscape of publishing. By drawing from the most prominent and successful international experiences, Saudi publishers will gain invaluable insights that will enable them to adapt and continue to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

The training program offers numerous key advantages, including the transfer of international expertise and experiences, intensive training on international best practices in publishing, exclusive field visits to renowned international publishing houses, and one-on-one consultation sessions with industry experts. Additionally, participants will have the unique opportunity to forge meaningful connections and foster relationships between the international and local publishing communities, potentially paving the way for future collaborations and the exchange of knowledge.

The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission expects this program to be an experience that will act as a catalyst for growth and innovation within the Saudi publishing sector, ultimately enhancing access to excellent literature across the Kingdom.

 Kozhikode: IIM Kozhikode welcomed Hon’ble Governor of Kerala Shri Arif Mohammed Khan to the Campus in an event which saw the statesman release the Malayalam translation of ‘Krishna – the 7^th Sense’; ‘Krishnan Oru Ezhamindriyam’ authored by Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director IIM Kozhikode. ‘Krishna – the 7^th Sense’ is the accolade-winning debut novel of this noted academic, globally acclaimed management guru, who already has 18 books to his credit in the non-fiction category. Hon’ble Governor also unveiled the latest edition of Prof. Chatterjee’s work ‘Karma Sutras – Leadership and Wisdom in Uncertain Times’, the lead book of IIMK-Penguin Series for New Managers.

Debashis Chatterjee’s long awaited Malayalam translation of his debut novel offers an allegorical view into the lives of the protagonist, a teacher (Keshav) and his former students (Neel, Kaya and others) from Business School , and conjures up some unforgettable lessons in love. His ability to weave together the mystical and the real, the past and the present, space and time, body and soul, allows readers to grasp the many facets of love through characters who are both connected and approachable. In this way, the Indian thought of Leadership and Life is expressed in a simple but profound way. It has been translated from English to be titled ‘Krishnan Oru Ezhamindriyam’ by Mr V Madhusoodan.

Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, who read excerpts from the original English version of ‘Krishna – the 7^th Sense,  in his praise for the book said that Prof. Chatterjee’s work in fiction as well as academics, is a window to transcend human limitations and go beyond what one perceives oneself to be, in the search for love and truth. Touting the example of ‘Krishnan Oru Ezhamindriyam’, he congratulated the author for contributing his philosophical and cultural stories to enrich and enlighten the country for the past many decades. He said “Organizations are moved more by stories than theories”. He emphasized that love can break all boundaries and win everyone by compassion.

Prof. Chatterjee, expressed happiness that his debut work in fiction will reach the Malayalam readers and expressed his gratitude to the Governor for releasing “Krishnan Oru Ezhamindriyam” and the latest edition of ‘Karma Sutras’.  Speaking on his inspiration to pen this novel he added that this book explores a new dimension of Krishna as the embodiment of seven shades of love. Reading out excerpts from his book, the author shared that true love and devotion are both unconditional and identical. “Love, in all its purity cannot be sensed by the head or the five senses alone. This love can be grasped only through pure devotion which is a quality of the seventh sense. The novel’s protagonist Keshav discovers a love that is all-inclusive. A love that accepts everything and rejects nothing. Love is the source of peak human achievements.”

Earlier, Mr V Madhusoodan read out the excerpts from English version of Prof. Chatterjee’s work and its translated version to members of the audience. He shared the challenges associated with translation of a literary work from an accomplished author. He further added that he hoped he has done justice to the herculean task to replicate the passion and pursuit of perfection the author had undertaken in his original work of fiction.

The event also gave out a teaser of the remaining books of IIM-Kozhikode Penguin Series for New Managers, which will be released soon.

The book is now available at:  https://www.mbibooks.com/product/krishnan-oru-ezhamindriyam/

The Sahitya Akademi has announced a list of 22 recipients of its Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 20 winners of its Yuva Puraskar for this year. In the Hindi language category, Suryanath Singh won the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his collection of short stories, ‘Kotuk App’.

In Marathi language, Eknath Avhad has won the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his ‘Chhand Dei Aanand’ while Vishakha Vishwanath has won the Yuva Puraskar for ‘Swatahala Swataviruddh Ubhe Kartana’. Renowned children’s author Sudha Murty won Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her collection of stories titled ‘Grandparents’ Bag of Stories’. Prominent among Yuva Puraskar awardees are Anirudh Kanisetti for ‘Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from Chalukyas to Cholas’ and Atul Kumar Rai for his novel ‘Chandpur ki Chanda’.