Contemporary Literature, Delhi Workshop Programme

Contemporary Indian Writing in English and the Indian Market (8th – 10th March, 2007)

Workshop Programme

DAY I: 8th March, 2007

9.15 a.m.: Registration of participants.

9.45 a.m.: Welcome Remarks by Dr. Suman Gupta, Director, the Ferguson Centre, and Ms. Indira Chandrasekhar, Independent Publishers Group.

10.15 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.: Coffee

10.30 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.: Panel I

Available evidence suggests that the Indian market for Indian literary writing in English has increased significantly in the last two decades. Do you agree? If so: (a) Has this made an impact on what and how authors write? (b) Has this had an impact on authors?prospects for publication? (c) Has this made an impact on Indian literary production and markets as a whole?

Participants: Prof. Harish Trivedi, Mr. Keki Daruwala, Mr. Mahesh Dattani, Mr. Sarnath Banerjee, Mr. Ravi Singh.

Chair: Dr. Suman Gupta

1.00 p.m. - 1.45 p.m.: Lunch

1.45 p.m. - 4.15 p.m.: Panel II

Available evidence suggests that the Indian market for Indian literary writing in English has increased significantly in the last two decades. Do you agree? If so: (a) Has this made an impact on the literary material that is available for publication? (b) Has this had an impact on the Indian publishing industry? (c) Has this made an impact on Indian literary production and markets as a whole?

Participants: Ms. Mini Krishnan, Ms. Nandita Aggarwal, Ms. Ritu Menon, Ms. Renuka Chatterjee, Mr. Raj Kamal Jha.

Chair: Prof. Richard Allen

4.15 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.: Tea

4.30 p.m. - 4.50 p.m.: Short presentations by researchers Arunima Paul and Shvetal Vyas on the Promotion/Marketing of Contemporary Indian Writing in English.

Chair: Dr. Tapan Basu

DAY II: 9th March, 2007.

9.45 a.m. - 10.45 a.m.: Presentation on Contemporary Indian Writing in English and the Indian Market through the lens of The Little Magazine, by Ms. Antara Dev Sen, followed by discussion initiated through observations on ‘little magazines’ by researchers Shivani Mutneja, Shvetal Vyas and Arunima Paul.

Chair: Ms. Urvashi Butalia.

10.45 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.: Coffee

11.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.: Panel III

Available evidence suggests that the Indian market for Indian literary writing in English has increased significantly in the last two decades. Do you agree? If so: (a) Has this had an impact on the Indian book distribution and retailing sector? (b) Does Indian literary writing in English now have greater visibility in relation to other kinds of writing, and are distributors/retailers contemplating giving it more visibility? (c) What impact has the opening up of chain bookshops had on a sector largely dominated earlier by independent bookshops? (d) How could the comparatively less lucrative aspects of Indian literary writing (especially poetry or drama) be sustained?

Participants: Mr. R. Sriram, Mr. Ajit Vikram Singh, Ms. Poonam Malhotra, Ms. Urvashi Butalia.

Chair: Prof. Bob Owens.

1.00 p.m. - 1.45 p.m.: Lunch

1.45 p.m. - 4.15 p.m.: Panel IV

Available evidence suggests that the Indian market for Indian literary writing in English has increased significantly in the last two decades. Do you agree? If so: (a) Has this made an impact on the literary material that is available for reviewing? (b) Has this had an impact on the practice and opportunities for reviewing? (c) Has this made an impact on Indian literary production and markets as a whole?

Participants: Dr. Shobhana Bhattacherjee, Dr. Nivedita Sen, Ms. Nilanjana Roy, Prof. M.Asaduddin , Prof . Susan Visvanathan .

Chair : Prof . Meenakshi Mukherjee. 

4.15 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.: Tea

4.30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.: Short presentations by researchers Akhil Katyal, Vaibhav Parel and Shivani Mutneja on the Book Review Journals and the Market for Contemporary Indian Writing in English.

Chair: Dr. Robert Fraser

DAY III: 10th March, 2007.

9.45 a.m. - 12.15 p.m.: Panel V

Available evidence suggests that the Indian market for Indian literary writing in English has increased significantly in the last two decades. Do you agree? If so: (a) Has this made an impact on the literary studies curriculum in Indian education? (b) Has this had/Is this likely to have an impact on Indian literary scholarship and research? (c) Has this made an impact on Indian literary production and markets as a whole?

Participants: Prof. Meenakshi Mukherjee, Prof. Shyamala Narayan, Prof. Gerald Gaylard, Dr. G.J.V. Prasad, Ms. Anuradha Marwah.

Chair: Prof. Harish Trivedi.

12.15 p.m. - 12.30 p.m.: Coffee

12.30 p.m. - 1.15 p.m.: Open House Round-Up Discussion.

Chair: Dr. Tapan Basu.

1.15 p.m. - 1.30 p.m.: Vote of Thanks.

1.30 p.m.: Lunch.