BOOK PROMOTION AND COPYRIGHT
With a population of about 100 million students and 200 million literates we need in large numbers, text books as well as good general reading material which widen the horizons of one's mind. There is also the need to make books available at prices which the reading public in general and students in particular can afford. This need has been underlined in the National Policy on Education and has also been stressed in the 20-Point Economic Programme announced by the Prime Minister. Accordingly this Ministry had been undertaking several programme for production of text and reference books, both of foreign and Indian origin, as well as good general reading material at low prices.
The more important activities undertaken in this field are briefly as follows:
NATIONAL BOOK TRUST During 1975-76 so far, 45 titles have been brought out by the Trust under several series bringing the total number of books published to about 780. About 36 more titles are expected to be brought out during the remaining period of the current financial year.
In pursuance of the objective, of fostering book-mindedness, the Trust has since its inception, held seven National Book Fairs and more than 70 regional book exhibitions in the, various regions of the country.
In addition to these activities the Trust has also been entrusted with the implementation of some important schemes such as the Aadan- Pradan, the Scheme of Subsidised Publication of University Level. Books in English by Indian Authors, Science Textbook Programme, Organisation of the World Book Fair, etc.
Briefly these programmes are as under
(a) Aadan-Pradan During 1975-76 so far, the Trust has brought out, under the Scheme, 51 books and translations, bringing the total to about
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250 books and translations in the series. About 15 more titles are in various stages of production.
(b) Scheme of subsidised publication of University level books
in English by Indian authors As one of the points in the 20-point economic programme is to make available, textbooks at reasonable prices, this scheme has gained added importance and steps are being taken to accelerate the tempo of the, scheme so that a larger number of books are subsidised for the benefit of students. During 1975-76, so far the publication of 12 titles has been subsidised, bringing the total number of books brought out under the Programme to 78, the Trust expects that about 25 more titles will be brought out under the Scheme during the remaining period of the financial year.
(c) Science textbook programme Since 1971-72, the Trust is also subsidising with USAID funds, the publication of science and technology titles by Indian authors and translations of American and Indian titles in regional languages, in the fields of science and technology. During 1975-76 so far, 57 titles have been subsidised, bringing the total number of books brought out under this scheme to 127.
(d) Second World Book Fair In collaboration with the Indian book Industry, the National Book Trust organised the Second World Book Fair in New Delhi from 16th to 25th January, 1976. 37 publishers from 19 countries, viz., the U.S.S.R., the U.K., the U.S.A., the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Yogoslavia, Bulgaria, France, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Iraq,, Kenya, Holland, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Iran, WHO, UNESCO and ILO, and 266 Indian publishers and distributors, including publishing units of various State Governments and the Centre participated in the Fair. The University Grants Commission also put up a collective display of the publications brought out by the Universities in Delhi. A delega- tion of publishers from Pakistan also attended the Fair. Some of the main features of this Fair were:-
(i) a National Exhibition of over 5000 Indian books published between January 1974 and September 1975, in Indian languages and English;
(ii) an International Exhibit of Children's Books received from 22 countries, held pursuant to UNESCO's decision to observe 1976 as the Year of the Child;
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(iii) the presentation of the International Book Award on behalf of UNESCO to the Book Committee of the U.S.S.R.;
(iv) a four-day international Seminar on "The World publishing in the Eighties" in which 51 experts from India and 19 experts from foreign countries including a representative each of UNESCO and the Commonwealth Secretariat, participated; and
(v) a special Book Bazar at which books were sold at concessional prices by the Indian participants in the Fair.
A training course on publishing management and symposia and seminars on various aspects of publishing were organised by the Federation of Iidian Publishers, Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India, etc.
During the, Fair, the Author's Guild of India organised their second National Convention which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The Indian Library Association also held their 22nd All India Library Conference, which was inaugurated by the Vice-President.
Low-priced editions of standard educational material of University
level originating abroad Since, at the university stage of education, we have been de- pendent on foreign books and finding that imported books were beyond the resources of most Indian students and also keeping in view the fact that the production of standard indigenous works would take sometime, the Government of India entered into collaboration arrangements with the Governments of the U.K., the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. in 1960, 1961, and 1965 respectively to make available standard university level books originating in these countries, to Indian students at low-prices.
Under the U.K. Scheme (known as the English Language Book Society Series) and the Joint Indo-Soviet Textbook Programme, low-priced editions of selected titles, are reproduced in the U.K. and the U.S.S.R. respectively, and marketed in India through normal commercial channels. Under the Joint-Indo-American Standard Works Programme, the books are reprinted in India by Indian publishers with a subsidy from the PL 480 funds and sold at about 1/5th of the U.S. retail price.
The books brought out under all these three programmes are approved by the Government of India in consultation with expert agencies such as the U.G.C., the I.C.A.R. etc. The titles are
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normally evaluated from the point of view of their suitability and usefulness to the students. As a general rule of equally good books by Indian authors are available, the foreign titles are not recommended for publication under these programmes. Efforts are also made to ensure that only the latest editions of the approved titles are republished under these programmes.
So far about 600 British, 1450 American and 230 Soviet Books have been brought out under these programmes.
The eighth meeting of the Indo-Soviet Textbook Board was held in New Delhi in November 1975. The Board was set up in 1965 with the Education Secretary as the Chairman and 5 members each from Indian and Soviet sides, to lay down a broad policy for the implementation of the Programme. A Soviet delegation headed by the Soviet Deputy Minister of Higher and Specialised Secondary Education, attended the meeting held in November, 1975. During this meeting, the Board considered and made recommendations on various matters relating to the translation of Soviet books into English and the Indian languages, co-authoring of books by Indian and Soviet authors, bilateral agreements for facilitating quick transfer of reprinting and translation rights, utilising facilities for printing in India and measures for ensuring the correct presentation of each other's country in their, respective textbooks.
Since 1970-71, a few Indian scholars are also being deputed each year to get training in the U.S.S.R. in translation techniques for about 10 months. This is being done to increase, the facilities for translation of Soviet books into English and Indian languages, so that a larger number of books could be made available under the Joint Indo Soviet Textbook Programme. During 1975-76 five Indian scholars have been deputed to the U.S.S.R. for this training.
Procurement of translation rights. As part of their programmes to produce university level books in Indian languages, the State Governments have been bringing out translations into Indian languages of suitable foreign books. To facilitate the work of obtaining translation rights from foreign copyright owners in regard to books selected by the State Governments and to provide coordination, the copyright licences are negotiated centrally on behalf of the State Governments. During 1975-76 so far 33 contracts for translation rights were executed, bringing the total to 1359 contracts with the American and British Publishers for translation of their books into the various Indian languages.
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National Book Development Board The National Book Development Board which was set up in 1967 was last reconstituted in 1970. The question of its being reconstituted further is under consideration.
Raja Rammohun Roy National Educational Centre. This Centre was started in 1972 with Textbook Reference Library Wing. The Library has a large collection of about 35,000 university level books produced in the country since 1965 in all languages including English and in various disciplines and donated to the Centre by the Indian publishers, as also the books brought out under the three programmes operated by the Government of India in,collaboration with the Governments of the U.K., the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. Fresh titles are added from time to time. This collection facilitates authors, publishers and other interested in the field, to identify the subject-fields and levels where books need to be produced indigenously. In order to publicise the availability of indegenous books, the Library Wing of the Centre organises from time to time exhibitions of selections of such books, at various university centres. During 1975-76, the Centre has organised five such exhibitions at the Universities of Kerala, Mysore, Utakal, Kashmir and Udaipur. The Centre also arranges on-the-spot evaluations by subject specialists of selected books and circularises particulars of the books found suitable for use by various universities etc. so that they could be increasingly used instead of foreign or imported books. During 1975-76 so far on-the-spot evaluation of 32 books on Management Sciences public Administration and Education were arranged. In addition the Centre has been (a) conducting sample surveys on the various aspects of the production and use of university level books (b) issuing periodical supplements to the National Catalogue of University Level Books (which was compiled in 1972 by the Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India with financial assistance from this, Ministry) to keep it up-to-date and (c) making available annotated bibliographies about indigenous university level books and guides to periodical literature on book industry. Quarterly supplements to the National catalogue have been issued and two combined issues have been brought out in mimeographed form and distributed to publishers, universities, etc. Two issues of the Annotated Catalogue of Low-priced Publications and Core Books have been brought out. The Centre also brought out two issues of "A Guide to, Periodical Literature on Book Industry" to serve as an index of articles appearing in a select periodical literature in English published in India and abroad, and is distributed free to, publishers of university level books. The Centre has also brought out
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two NERC Newsletters, two fascicules of the Bibliography on Book Industry and Trade, bimonthly lists of university level books etc.
Import and Export of Books
Import policy of books The import policy for books, journals, magzines, children's literature and other educational material is laid down by the Chief Controller of Imports mid Exports in consultation with this Ministry. However, to ensure that imported materials do not impede the development of indigenous books, the importers are exhorted not to import books of which Indian reprints are available.
The features of the import policy are that individuals can import educational books for their own use upto Rs. 500/- per year without an import licence. They can also import other books upto Rs. 400/- in each case against licences. Libraries and educational institutions can import educational, scientific and technical books upto Rs. 10,000/- per year for their own use without a licence. For requirements exceeding Rs. 10,000/ they can also obtain import licences for the import of such books.
The established importers are allowed quota licences for the import of books, non-technical journals, news magazines etc. upto 100% of their basic quota. They are also allowed supplementary licence @ 250% of their basic quota for the import of educational, scientific and technical books. The quota and supplementary licences are also made valid for the import of scientific and technical journals on request. Import of filmstrips with pre-recorded cassettes of an educational nature is also allowed against quota and supplementary licences for books against specific orders. Teaching Aids including microfilms filmstrips and microfiches are also allowed, import up to 10% of the value of quota, licence for books.
New comers to the import trade of books who had been in the internal trade of books for a minimum period of one full year, and had an annual internal purchase turnover of Rs. 1 lakhs are also allowed import licences for the import of educational, scientific and technical books for Rs. 2 lakhs or more depending upon the number of years they have been in the internal trade of books and their annual internal purchase turnover.
The STC which had for the first time taken up the import of scientific and educational journals and magazines in 1973-74 is assisting universities and other institutions of higher learning
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by arranging imports of scientific and technical journals for their use. The STC not only plans to extend its services to cover a larger number of universities and other institutions of higher learning, but also to undertake the import of low discount books and also such books which the universities field difficult to obtain through the normal trade channels.
At the instance of this Ministry with the object of developing healthy relations between booksellers and librarians, the Federations of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India has on behalf of the book trade agreed to allow a uniform discount of 10% on all imported books.
Book export promotional activities India is one of the leading publishing countries in the world and has a growing potential for exporting books not only to the established markets like the U.K. and the U.S.A. but to new markets in South East Asia, West Asia and the African countries.
During the year under review, arrangements were made to participate in the International Book Fairs held in Montreal (May 1975), Singapore (August 1975), Frankfurt (October 1975), International Book Fair held in Cairo (January 1976) with the assistance of the National Book Trust Missions abroad. Special exhibitions of Indian books were organised with the assistance of our Missions abroad in Guyana (June-July, 1975), Thailand (September and November, 1975), Fiji (October 1975), Indonesia (December 1975) and Iran in (February, 1976). Books were also sent for display at the International Exposition of Children's Books held at Boston (June, 1975) in the combined Book Exhibit held in San Francisco (June-July, 1975) and in the International Book Fair held in Leipzing (April, 1975) and in Sofia (September 1975). In these exhibitions, books were displayed on behalf of various publishers both in the public and in the private sector.
To promote the exports of books and publications, this Ministry continued to obtain market survey reports through Indian Missions abroad which were circulated among the various publishers and booksellers through their Federation. The Federation of Publishers & Booksellers Associations in India was assisted in the publication of a quarterly journal "Recent Indian Books" a copy of which was airmailed to 700 foreign books importers. Subject catalogues covering 5250 titles were also got compiled and printed through the National Book Trust and distributed among various Educational Institutions and Libraries abroad.
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Miscellaneous An All India Workshop for Writers, Editors and Indexers, is proposed to be organised by the Indian International Centre in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Social Welfare. The Authors Guild of India has also been associated with the proposal. The objective of the workshop is to promote the professional efficiency of those responsible for the creation of Books i.e. writers, translators, editors, reviewers, librarians and indexers. A grant of Rs. 18,000/- has been sanctioned to India International Centre by this Ministry for the purpose.
After organising the first National Convention of Authors in 1974, the Authors Guild of India organised the II National Convention of Authors in New Delhi in the third week of January, 1976 so as to coincide with the World Book Fair being held in the capital at the same time. A grant of Rs. 32,000/- has been sanctioned to Authors Guild of India by this Ministry for the purpose.
On a request from the Asian Cultural Centre for UNESCO, Shri Abul Hasan, Special Officer (Books) in this Ministry has been deputed to visit Bangla Desh from 28.12.1975 to 6.1.1976 and Sri Lanka from 24th to 31st January, 1976 as a lecturer in the Mobile Exports Team for Book Production Training Course being organised by the Asian Cultural Centre for UNESCO. The main objective of the Mobile Team is to organise on-the-spot training courses on book production with the aim of training local personnel in the book field catering to the local needs and situations. The team will provide lectures and practical training and also offer general advice on various problems in the field of book development activities.