Major global book fairs in the coming months will see the National Book Trust introduce a new element: a conference for the Indian diaspora.
The Trust — an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Human Resource Development — eyes the Beijing Book Fair in August, the Frankfurt Book Fair in October and Sharjah Book Fair in November as venues to host such meets.
The conferences will encourage overseas Indians — the “cultural ambassadors” of India abroad — to write literature on themes related to Indian values. The NBT will also offer to publish such works.
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Indian values
“The vision behind such conferences is two-fold: to bring Indian diaspora writers on one platform so that they can engage with one another and develop a common thought, and to encourage them to write literature that represents Indian values to reach out to the next generation of Indians in that country,” a senior official told
The NBT has already held one such conference successfully at the London Book Fair, and this has enthused it to replicate the model.
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At the London Book Fair, which was held from March 14 to 16, 2017, the Trust organised a diaspora writers’ meet besides showcasing books from India.
“The NBT told the Indian delegates that their literature was replete with the stories of their struggles in their adopted land but they should look at writing more literature that connects their new generation with Indian values,” said an official.
The conference elicited views on projecting the work of Indian diaspora writers of U.K. in India. More than 15 Indian writers settled in various parts of U.K. participated in the discussion, chaired by NBT chairman Baldev Sharma.
Mr Sharma addressed the delegates about its endeavour to engage with the Indian diaspora writers.