The narrow, elongated stretch of land in eastern India, known as West Bengal sheltering a disproportionately enormous population, was snatched from the plans of Pakistan by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Posterity has spared little in labelling this statesman politician a communal person, while they themselves escaped from the consequences of partition...

The year 2020 has been all about survival. With zero sales in one quarter and orders barely trickling in the next, it is a wonder we survived at all, especially with the brick-and-mortar stores downing their shutters. Some never to open again. But God has been kind. And of course, the continued support of our readers online kept us going. It has be...

Kaladarsana Division of IGNCA, hosted a webinar on 'The Future of Publishing Industry in Post Covid scenario', on 2nd June 2020. The accomplished Panelists included: Sadhna Rout, Former DG, Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting;  Ashok Gupta, Honorary Secretary General, Federation of Indian Publishers; Sesh Sheshadri, ...

Among the stars who became STARS this week is Ronald Vivian Smith, born in Agra on 6 January 1938 and rendered unto the Lord 30 April 2020 in Delhi. How do we know him? And what do we know of him? This son of the yesteryear journalist Thomas Smith, this pillar in the old redbrick building of The Statesman at the crossing of the Barakhamba Road, thi...

Did you know? Although the pressures on nature had not become so acute in Gandhi's lifetime, this wise man had the foresight to see that our planet's carrying capacity is not infinite and some restraint will have to be placed on how much pressure we can place on its air, water, forests and minerals. Mahatma Gandhi said, 'Nature has enough to satisf...

The Bhagavad Gita says, "One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme, is unaffected by sinful action, just as the lotus is untouched by water." These are beautiful words and the most sound advice on detachment to the modern-day professional. Detachment doesn't mean you should not aspire to reach the top i...

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same and this couldn't be truer, especially when talking about the status of women in our country. Rape laws have been amended and there are hundreds of fast-track courts, but Nirbhaya, whose brutal rape horrified the nation, gets justice after seven long years and even that is a question mark until Ma...

It is World Book Day today and we at Vitasta take the pledge to encourage and promote reading by bringing out engaging, thought-provoking and exceptional books to suit the taste of every reader. Let us together spread the joy of reading. Tell your children how books can be their best friends. Start early. Read them a bedside story, be it of knights...

Vitasta's new book, Multi-Agency Response To Violence Against Women , has a provocative subtitle, 'Feminist Social Work with the Police system'. What does it exactly mean? How is it different from Social Work otherwise? On the occasion of March 8, I would like to explain what it signifies. Patriarchy is a social malaise that breeds inequality of se...

AS THE year comes to an end, a troubling thought has been: Is the Indian publishing industry going Through a flat phase? Two years ago, Academic books market share was 40%, Children's books was 30%, Trade publishing was 30%. Today, the K 12 market share is 71%, Higher Education share is 22% and only 7% is the share of the trade market. This means, ...

IT WAS especially important for India to be present at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year, to redeem her image as one of the world's greatest tolerant democracies. India-born Salman Rushdie, in his inaugural address said, publishing was the 'embodiment' and 'guardian of freedom of speech'. He added, 'If you believe in a single vision of the truth......