Activity room

Potter, Potter, everywhere. You must have had your fill of Potter by now. The media is full of news about the release of the book and The Hindu too has published several articles on the novel. Growing up with Potter, travelling with Potter, eating and sleeping with Potter, it looks as if Potter is out to get you, after your soul, to occupy all your spaces. No doubt it is good to see a book get the kind of publicity that is usually reserved for the mega media events like the release of a blockbuster film. The publishing world hails it as a saviour, since it has supposedly reintroduced millions of children to the pleasures of reading. And that seems justification enough for the hype. Behind this, of course, is the assumption that children nowadays have a mindless addiction to the fare dished out by the cable channels and that the habit of reading is dying. How real are these assumptions? Perhaps it is time you yourselves told us the truth.

Perhaps we should also look at the kind of appeal a book written for a western audience can have for children here in India. I am not saying that the book is badly written or that it does not deserve the kind of success it has had. But does it connect with the kind of life you lead here and address your concerns, joys and sorrows? Or does it leave you a little dissatisfied with your life here and now? As if all the fun and the beautiful things in life happen elsewhere?

Often when talking about international bestsellers, people refer to a borderless universal appeal. Have you ever wondered why only western books get to be marketed under this universal label? Books from other parts of the world are invariably labelled ethnic or multicultural, as if they alone are culture-specific. There are quite a few good children's book publishers here in India and if you have not heard of them or their titles, it is simply because the media does not give them the kind of publicity doled out to books like the Potter series.

The Hindu and the Young World have extensively reviewed books for children produced in India - books that children can relate to. Take a look at the following articles to get an idea of the kind of initiatives being undertaken: "For children, by children", April16,1999; "Why tell a story?" September19,1999; "Words take wings", February 14; "One-stop shop for kids", May 1; "Reading is Power. But what happens if you are a girl?" May 21; "From the land of shunya", July 1. If you have trouble getting hold of these articles, do write in to us.

While ten or 20 years ago most of the books published were retold (remixed?) versions of folk tales and tales from the Panchatantra, there is an amazing variety being produced now.

While we would like to get your feedback on these issues, here is an activity for you. Don't go for your notebook and pen. It is not an activity of that kind. The next time you go to a bookshop, and I am sure most of you do go to bookshops and love browsing, look out for titles brought out by Indian publishers. If you can't find them easily, ask an assistant in the shop. You are sure to find a whole new world waiting there for you. It may not be a slick, well-packaged world but it has many stories to tell. And, somewhere there among all those mulitiplicity of narratives, you will find your own story. Because it is a world you can truly call your own. Welcome home...

Compiled by

N. SUBASH JEYAN

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