BIENNIAL REPORT – 2008
OF THE INDIAN BBY –
ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS AND
ILLUSTRATORS FOR CHILDREN
(AWIC)
INDIAN BBY - AWIC
Information for the Biennial Reports
Reporting Period: August 2006 – August 2008
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 INDIA
1.2Indian BBY/ Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC)
Nehru House, 4 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. 110 002
Tel: +91.11.2331095
Fax: + 91.11.23724067
Representatives
1.3.1 Ms. Nilima Sinha,
President,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
6, Kushak Road, New Delhi. 110011
Tel. +91.11.23017231/ +91.23794197
Email:
1.3.2Ms. Manorama Jafa
Secretary General,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
Nehru House, 4 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. 110 002
Tel/Fax: +91.11.2331095 / +91.11.23316970
Email:
1.3.3Dr. Ira Saxena
Secretary,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
B-169, Sector 44, NOIDA. 201301
Tel: +91.120.2433691/ +91.120.4331537
Email: /
1.4 Organisation
1.4.1 The Indian BBY/AWIC is a registered voluntary organisation. It is
governed by 5 office-bearers of the Association, the President, Vice-
President. Secretary General, Secretary and Treasurer and a committee
of 6 elected members. This forms the Executive Committee which
conducts the working of the National Section.
1.4.2The NS is affiliated to Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children.
1.4.3The Children’s Book Trust supports the National Section by providing
rent-free office space, telephone and secretarial facilities.
3 staff members are salaried, the secretary, office assistant and the
accountant.
1.4.4There is a meeting every third Saturday of the month except in the month
of May and June. The Executive Committee meets on the first Saturday of
each month.
Membership
1.4.5We have one institutional member as of present. Institutional members are from schools, libraries, publishers, booksellers and those working for
children.
1.4.6The AWIC has 528 individual members in all – 441 Life members (which includes 20 members from other countries and 87 ordinary members.
1.4.7Membership is open to writers, illustrators, librarians, editors, teachers and
publishers and those interested in the promotion of creative literature for
children. The individual members participate in all workshops, seminars,
competitions, exhibitions and reading promotion activities of the
Association. They also send their suggestions for activities, which can be
organised by the National Section. They participated in various activities in
the 26th IBBY Congress, New Delhi and IBBY Congresses in Columbia,
Basel, South Africa and Macau and some will participate in the
forthcoming IBBY Congress at Copenhagen.
As regards the break-up of members in percentages is difficult to estimate
accurately. Mostly there are writers, illustrators, librarians and teachers and
a vast number of individuals are interested in reading promotion,
storytelling and activities related to benefit children.
1.4.8There are three main categories of membership in our National Section – Life members, Annual members and Institutional members.
1.4.9All the members receive regular circulars about meetings and activities and there is communication through Emails.
2. Funding
2.1 The Annual budget is approximately Rupees ten lakhs ($20,000). The budget
keeps varying with the activities planned. However, the budget has been increasing each year.
2.2 Sources of Income
2.2.1 There are three levels of the national membership fee –
Annual Membership – Rs. 400.00 ($8 apprrox.)
Life Membership - Rs. 4000.00 ( $100 approx)
Annual Institutional Membership – Rs.4000.00 ($100 approx)
Overseas Membership - $500
2.2.2 We do not receive regular financial support from individual sponsors and/or
donors? Children’s Book Trust has made office space and telephone
available to AWIC.
2.2.3We do not get government grants on regular basis.
2.2.4We do not receive any grant from any other organisation.
2.2.5Indian BBY is an independent body. It does not receive any contribution or financial support from other NS.
2.2.6Usually the publications expenses incurred are received through project based grant or donation which generally covers the expense. Many publications of Indian BBY have been printed on credit and the sales have later paid for the loan. In the literacy project the books developed and printed were distributed free in accordance with the demand of the donor from Japan. ‘Stories across the Globe’ was developed for IBBY. There is no scope for any profit. We have no marketing outlet.
2.2.7None.
2.2.8We do not receive any regular grant or contribution from any source. The membership fee is added to the income when new individuals sign up.
2.2.9Indian BBY has collected funds when it has organised special events like exhibitions, conferences etc. Through appeal for donations for specific events and projects we are able to organise events and sometimes save.
- The National Section’s Activities
Main Activities
2.1Yes.
- Monthly meeting for interaction between authors, artists, educationists and publishers.
- Writing Workshops and Illustrators Workshops
- Competitions for Writers
- Publication of Story Collections.
5. Storytelling in schools for the under-privileged children, reading centres of NGO’s and workshops for teachers and librarians.
6. Establishing IBBY/AWIC Children’s Libraries in North-east province of Arunachal and Mandi Village near Delhi.2007.
7. Setting-up three Children’s Libraries for Unicef.
- Developing a manual on building libraries for children, 2007 for Unicef.
- International Conference on Storytelling to Promote Peace,
Cultural Integration and Reading Habits in Children – 17 –19 September, 2007.
10. Exhibition of Picture Books in collaboration with the National Book
Trust during the 18th World Book Fair, New Delhi, 2-10 February 2008.
- Children’s Activity of Reading Picture Books at the 18th World Book
Fair, New Delhi, 2008.
- Indo Russian Seminar on Cross Cultural Exchange of Children’s Books during 18th World Book Fair, New Delhi, 2008.
- Release of The Road to Peace - stories that show the way written by members of AWIC on the theme of peace at the Indo Russian Seminar in the World Book Fair, New Delhi, 2008.
14. Distribution of books to 5000 children of schools for the under-
privileged under the new AWIC Gift a Book scheme launched in the
Silver Jubilee year of AWIC Children’s Library Project.
15. Workshop for librarians for Children’s Libraries April, 2008.
16. Silver Jubilee Celebration of AWIC Children’s Library Project
with a special programme – Let’s Read Together – with children.
- Publication of Collection of humorous stories for children – Padhenge Hasenge (Read and Laugh) – written by members of AWIC, 2008.
- Participation of members in world events such as Bologna Book Fair, Nami Children’s Book Festival, Korea and Asia Pacific on Children’s Book Publishing, Malaysia, 2008.
- ICBD Poster Exhibition and exhibition of Picture Books and Original Illustrations, 29-31 October, 2008.
20. Announcement of forthcoming big event of
International Conference on Children’s Libraries –
Building a Book Culture 2-4 February, 2010.
3.1.2The members of Indian BBY attend seminars, workshops, meetings related to children’s literature organised by other organisations at the national level.
- At the international level the President and the IBBY Executive Committee member were invited to the Nami Book Festival 2007. In 2008 a member was nominated to go to Nami Book Festival, Korea to conduct a workshop on Picture Books. Two members went to Nami Book Festival for storytelling. One of the members was invited to present the Keynote presentation at the Asia Pacific Conference on Children’s Book Publishing in Malaysia. One more member of AWIC participated in this event, as well.
- In the International Conference on Storytelling, 2007, 27 delegates from 17 countries had participated. There was a constant cross-cultural exchange among the participants in the three-day long Conference.
- The Secretary General represented Indian BBY at Bologna Book Fair 2007 and 2008.
- The Secretary and the member of the IBBY Ex.Com went to Bologna (2007,2008) and Moscow (2007) for the IBBY meetings.
- Members have participated in World Book Fair programmes in Delhi and literary events in other towns.
3.1.3 Indian BBY organises seminars at local level, storytelling and reading
promotion activities for writers and librarians. Achievement oriented
workshops are organised for writers and illustrators. Works of illustrators
are exhibited.
3.1.4 The NS organises exhibitions.
3.1.5 The NS organises Annual Library Award function to present awards to
librarians and readers.
The AWIC Honours 2007 for writer, illustrator, publisher, researcher and
reading promotion were given.
The NS organises competitions for writers and illustrators. The
prize winning entries are published in Writer and Illustrator, the National
Section’s quarterly journal. They are usually accommodated in various
Anthologies and story collections.
3.1.6 The NS published the proceedings of the International Conference on Storytelling – 2007 in a special issue of Writer and Illustrator.
3.1.7The Story-telling activity of the NS where many author members perform and interact with children is constantly active. Usually this is organised in the AWIC children’s Libraries, schools and programmes organised for special children and the disadvantaged.
3.2 Communication
3.2.1 Indian BBY has a website –
3.2.2 The NS publishes a quarterly Journal – Writer and Illustrator. This journal is
mailed to all the members of AWIC although it is not available online.
3.2.3The NS has been preparing booklists for many years. In 2005 a booklist was prepared for the benefit of librarians on the event of the National Convention on Children’s Libraries. We are in the process of updating it.
3.2.4Our quarterly journal, Writer and Illustrator is a regular publication of
AWIC. We publish research-based articles on children’s literature, profiles of
people associated with children’s literature, IBBY news and information, reports
of literary events, book reviews, catalogues, stories authored and illustrated by
members. Special issues of the journal have been brought out from time to time –
eg. Hans Christian Anderson Nominees Special, IBBY special, Panchtantra
special, Bologna special, Japan special, Indo Austrian Seminar special, National
Convention on Libraries special and Asian conference on Storytelling (2005) and
International Conference on Storytelling (2007) special.
3.2.5We do not work with any national media to promote our NS or IBBY.
3.3Cooperation at a national level
3.3.1The NS and members of AWIC are invited by other governmental and non-
governmental organisations for improvement of national curriculum, text books,
conference on procurement of good books by UN agencies and national bodies
and publishers seek advice on children’s books. Although this does not occur on
regular basis, nevertheless, the members are important personalities of Children’s
Literature.
3.3.2Many NGO’s are working in different States of the country to develop children’s
reading and publishing, promoting storytelling and the art of storytelling. Indian BBY is not only aware of many of them but occasionally works closely with them to further their goals. They are Children’s Book Trust, Pratham Books, Room to Read, Katha, Kathalaya, Bal Bhavan, National Book Trust etc.
3.3.3We collaborate with other NGO’s, the National Book Trust, State Boards of Education, the National Council for Educational Research and Training, the Federation of Indian Publishers etc.
4. COOPERATION WITH IBBY
4.1International activities in cooperation with IBBY
4.1.1A group of 7-8 members had gone to participate in each of the IBBY Congresses held in South Africa (2004) and Basel (2002). The current president of AWIC, Ms. Nilima Sinha was re-elected to the Executive Committee as Vice-President of IBBY at Basel. Ms Manorama Jafa, Secretary General of AWIC has been officially representing IndianBBY in many Congresses. At the Macau Congress 2006 a delegation of eight members had participated from IndianBBY Dr. Ira Saxena, Secretary of the IndianBBY was elected to the Executive Committee of IBBY in 2006 and has been nominated for the second term. Five members of IndianBBY will participate in the forthcoming IBBY Congress in 2008.
4.1.2The NS has participated in regional conferences of IBBY – the recent Conference
in Malaysia (2008).
International Children’s Book Day (ICBD)
4.1.3 Reading promotion and book promotion are some of the regular activities of the
NS. There are special lectures arranged for the members and they reach out to
Children to promote reading pleasure through storytelling and interacting with
them.
4.1.4In 2004 ICBD poster was designed by one of the foremost illustrators of India,
Mr. Jagdish Joshi and the message was written by the well known writer
Manoram Jafa.
4.1.5.Following the seminars and Conferences on Storytelling in the past years the
current year celebrated the silver jubilee of a major reading promotion project of
IndianBBY. To commemorate the event and emphasize the significance of ICBD
a scheme of gifting books to children of the underprivileged schools – AWIC Gift
a Book – was launched and books were gifted to 5000 children of Delhi and
National Capital Region
Through our journal ‘Writer and Illustrator’ and regular circulars to members the
information about children’s books, new publications, chilidren’s literature events,
publications, reading activities and planning of new publications is disseminated.
IBBY Awards and Projects
4.1.5This time there was no nomination for the Hans Christian Anderson Award. The
nomination procedure is very expensive for the NS.
For IBBY Honour 2007 Indian BBY nominated Deepa Agarwal, an author for
her book - Road to Tibet published by Puffins.
For IBBY Honour 2007in the illustrators category Taposhi Ghoshal was
nominated for her illustrations in the picture book written by Ira Saxena,
Panna- the Lonely Duckling published by Radical Publishers.
4.1.6The NS nominated the SARD Foundation (Society of All Round Development) for IBBY Asahi Reading Promotion Award 2007.
4.1.9 For the Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities ‘Cock plus Hen’
by Manorama Jafa, has been included in the catalogue
4.1.10 The NS has not recommend any book for the Documentation Centre of Books
for Disabled Young People.
4.1.11 We did not host any IBBY travelling exhibition.
Bookbird and other Projects
4.1.12 We are not aware if individual members subscribe for Bookbird.
4.1.13 The NS does not have a Bookbird editor. Recently the article concerning
Mahabharat and Harry Potter written by two lecturers from India were
published.
4.1.14The NS has not participated in any other international acitivty of IBBY.
4.1.15The Ex Com member from India, Ira Saxena was nominated on the Board of Bookbird 2006.
4.2Cooperation with other National Sections
4.2.1 The NS keeps track of developments in other National Sections and we extend our cooperation whenever it is possible. The NS participated in the Korean BBY International Picture Book Exhibition in April, 2006 and Picture Book Exhibition in April 2008. The President of NS,Ms. Nilima Sinha, visited the Alif Laila organisation in Pakistan. There is constant interaction and exchange of information with the National sections of Sri Lanka and Nepal.
4.2.2There is no regular bilateral cooperation with any NS.
4.2.3The NS has received support from JBBY for its literacy project.
4.2.4There has been cooperation and exchange with KBBY and MBBY.
4.2.5Delegates from various NS participated in the International Conference on Storytelling, 2007.
4.2.6. The NS shares information with other National Sections as our membership
extends internationally. All information and programmes are communicated
through circulars and the journal is mailed to them.
4.2.7. The NS has many ongoing projects and more projects are added every now and
then.
5. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The future programmes of Indian BBY are,
5.1.Continuation of ongoing projects, like monthly get-together of members, AWIC
Children’s Libraries, Storytelling, quarterly journal Writer and Illustrator and other
Publication activities.
5.2.A collection of humorous stories in Hindi – Padhenge Hasenge (Read and Laugh)
currently in press will be released shortly.
5.3.Development and promotion of Literacy Project.
5.4.Expansion of Children’s Library Project in Parks and Children’s wards in Hospitals.
5.5. Fostering international cooperation in children’s books.
5.6. Promoting the publication ‘The Road to Peace, stories that show the way’ written bythe members of the NS.
5.7. Exhibitions
5.8. Planning new publications and story collections.
5.9. International Conference on Children’s Libraries
– Building a Book Culture. 4-6 February 2010.
BIENNIAL REPORT – 2008
OF THE INDIAN BBY –
ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS AND
ILLUSTRATORS FOR CHILDREN
(AWIC)
INDIAN BBY - AWIC
Information for the Biennial Reports
Reporting Period: August 2004 – August 2006
Return deadline: August 2006
- GENERAL INFORMATION
18 INDIA
19Indian BBY/ Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC)
Nehru House, 4 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. 110 002
Tel/Fax: +91.11.2331095 / +91.11.23316970
1.3 Representatives
1.3.1 Ms. Nilima Sinha,
President,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
6, Kushak Road, New Delhi. 110011
Tel. +91.11.23017231/ +91.23794197
Email:
1.3.4Ms. Manorama Jafa
Secretary General,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
Nehru House, 4 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. 110 002
Tel/Fax: +91.11.2331095 / +91.11.23316970
Email:
1.3.5Dr. Ira Saxena
Secretary,
Indian BBY/Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children
(AWIC)
B-169, Sector 44, NOIDA. 201301
Tel: +91.120.2433691/ +91.120.4331537
Email: /
1.4 Organisation
1.4.1 The Indian BBY/AWIC is a registered voluntary organisation. It is
governed by 5 office-bearers of the Association, the President, Vice-
President. Secretary General, Secretary and Treasurer and a committee
of 6 elected members. This forms the Executive Committee which
conducts the working of the National Section.
1.4.10The NS is affiliated to Association of Writers and Illustrators for Chldren.
1.4.11The Children’s Book Trust supports the National Section by providing
rent-free office space, telephone and secretarial facilities.
3 staff members are salaried, the secretary, office assistant and the
accountant.
1.4.12There is a meeting every third Saturday of the month except in the month
of May and June. The Executive Committee meets on the first Saturday of
each month.
Membership
1.4.13We have one institutional member as of present. Institutional members are from schools, libraries, publishers, booksellers and those working for
children.
1.4.14The AWIC has 542 individual members in all – Life members and
annual members.
1.4.15Membership is open to writers, illustrators, librarians, editors, teachers and