JOURNAJUNKIE

An interactive session for children at the NBT Book Fair

A three days workshop for children is underway at Hotel Rendezvous, Gangtok which has been organized by National Book Trust (NBT), spearheaded by Editor, National Centre for Children’s Literature, Manas Ranjan Mahapatra. The event is part of Sikkim Book Fair-2013.

During today’s workshop, students from a local school participated. The students were divided into groups of two; one was assigned to write a story and the other had to draw a picture based on his teammate`s story. Selected stories from this event will be included in the Reader`s Club Bulletin, a children`s magazine published by NBT. The workshop helped them to bring out their stories and hone their writing skills and most importantly to improve their coordination skills.

Speaking to SIKKIM MAIL on the children’s workshop being conducted at the Sikkim Book Fair Festival, Manas Mahapatra said that children cannot be completely blamed if they are not interested in reading. Teachers, writers, illustrators and to some extent parents should collectively make children`s stories adaptable and appealing so that students are reintroduced into the spell of stories. He felt that children`s literature should be interactive and as attractive as other mediums like TV and games to grab their attention towards books.

Manas Mahatpatra also informed that he had a talk with Minister of HRDD, Government of Sikkim, NK Pradhan yesterday, where they discussed on various coordinated initiatives to be implemented for the promotion of reading habits among the children and youths in Sikkim. They are now planning to implement various future projects in Sikkim.

Firstly, they are planning to set up a Readers Club Movement (RCM) in all government schools up to secondary level in Sikkim. Through RCM, they have been performing various book-related activities for children across India. They have been continuously working with children, setting reader`s clubs in schools, especially in government schools. The movement has been going on for the last two decades.

Secondly, they are planning to have two events for May and October. During May, they will release books (catering to children) of about 10-15 publishers from Northeastern states. In October, there will be northeast children-book publisher`s meet. The NBT has been publishing children’s books in 28 languages. Some have been translated in tribal languages as well.  The NBT has also published these books in Nepali and Lepcha language which is currently available in the stall at the book fair.

On being asked what are the major challenges faced during children’s events in similar book fairs, he replied that the biggest challenge in the country is the dearth of good children`s authors and suitable reading materials for student. Adding to that, he said that there are very few children`s authors these days because most are inclined to write for an adult audience. It is for this reason that Manas Mahapatra and his team have decided to convince the concerned authorities to include a creative writing program for children`s literature as a regular MA course in universities, so that future graduates from this program can frame proper guidelines to produce quality books for children.

He felt that it will take at least 5-6 years to achieve all the proposals they have in mind. “People should be patient. We cannot expect immediate results. Events like this Book Fair takes time for its positive results to be realized in a community. The time has come when we should make coordinated and organized efforts because the government cannot do everything on their own. Only through such collective efforts can a good result be expected in the future,” he concluded.

Manas Mahapatra, along with eminent writer Ruchi Singh and Kabita Lama, have planned to pay a visit tomorrow to Hema Choksi`s children`s library called “Through the Looking Glass”.

Through such children`s events organized by NBT, it is to be hoped that a slow and gradual change will be effected and that more children will be drawn into the world of books in a world of competing mediums like televisions and digital games.