Scrapbook 2019

The third edition of FICCI’s“Scrapbook – Children’s Publishing Conclave” was recently organised in New Delhi, focusing on the diversity of content. The event witnessed participation of over 250 delegates including senior officials from Government, state education boards, publishers, content creators, digital disruptors, animators, illustrators, edtech companies, schools, and teachers.

In his welcome address, Ratnesh Jha, Chair, FICCI Publishing Committee, and Mg Director, Cambridge University Press, said that the maximum impact on mind happens in early age and publishers have a huge business opportunity in children’s literature to provide customised and diverse content on different platforms both for school text books and leisure reading.

In his keynote address, Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman, National Book Trust, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India said that vanishing literature from school education is clipping the wings of imagination and is robbing the child of a meaningful life despite having a successful career.

Prof Sharma urged the publishers of children’s books to create content that not only helps children lead a successful life but also meaningful life that goes beyond working for self and family by contributing towards society. He said, “Literature gives the wings of imagination even to a scientist for great works.”

Dr. Hrushikesh Senapaty, Director, NCERT, Govt. of India in his special address, said that it is a matter of great concern whether the society is preparing a good human being, a good citizen despite most of the children scoring above 90 per cent in studies. For this, he said that a complete change of mindset is required to destress the children and make them innovative.“Knowledge construction will be done by the children themselves, but we will have to create the conducive environment. We will have to facilitate and encourage divergent thinking for innovation and creativity among the children,” Dr Senapaty said.

In her closing address, Karthika V. K., Co-Chair, FICCI Publishing Committee and Publisher, Westland said, “We need a lot of diversity in the content we create, in world views and points of view amongst us that allows us to engage with each other. We need many kinds of children, many kinds of students, many kinds of books and I hope Scrapbook will allow us to think further on all of these aspects.”

FICCI, in partnership with Grant Thornton, will be preparing a survey-based study on book buying behaviour with a chapter on children’s books. Also, the jury members of FICCI Publishing Awards were announced at the event.

Workshops for Children

Scrapbook also invited students from various schools to participate in experimental learning workshops organized on topics like storytelling, creative writing, IPR, and first aid. During these workshops, enthusiasm was shown not only by the participating children, but also by their respective schools.

The main purpose of organizing these workshops was to observe, measure and present experiential learning concepts to introduce new ways of delivering the content. Experts believe that experiential learning presents the opportunity for children to understand and appreciate complicated concepts.

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Session 1: Diversity of Content and its Impact on Learning

This session highlighted the role of policy makers, publishers, content creators, schools and parents in providing suitable content according to the educational requirements of children. It was discussed that publishers play a vital role in the learning process. The session was moderated by Priyanka Srivastava, Editor, Education Times, Times of India. Other speakers for the session were Gayatri Khanna, Oxford University Press Author & Consultant and Resource Person CBSE & NCERT, Upasana Mahtani Luthra, Director – Public Relations,GurgaonMoms, Sumit Gupta, Mg Director, Indiannica and Dr. M. Srinivasan, Founder, GEAR Innovative Intl. School.

Session 2: Plenary Keynote Address

Richa Jain, Senior Vice President, Extramarks Education in her plenary keynote address, talked about “EduTech Revolution- Decoding the Future of Education.”

Session 3: 21st Century Learning

A Panel on “21st Century Learning” was moderated by Sesh Seshadri, Managing Partner & CEO, Overleaf Books LLP. Other speakers were Ritika Subhash, Director of Schools -Indian Subcontinent, Mangahigh.com (Blue Duck Education);Aneesh Bangia, Co-founder, Open Door Education and Aurobindo Saxena, Vice President, Technopak.

Session 4: Keeping Young Minds Fit and Fine

There was an interactive session on “Keeping Young Minds Fit and Fine” in conversation with Neera Maini Srivastav, Creative Director, Screenwriter &Author and Dr.Tripti Choudhary Vaid, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Centre for Child and Adolescent Wellbeing. The session was moderated by Lipika Bhushan, Chief Marketing Consultant, Market My Book.

Session 5: Children Leisure Reading

A Panel on “Children Leisure Reading” was moderated by Shalini Singh, Associate Publishing Manager, English, Education, Cambridge University Press India. Other speakers were Christopher C. Doyle, Author, Growth Catalyst & CEOCoach; Shinibali M Saigal, Senior Editor, Pratham Books and Rina Singh, Principal, ApeejaySchool.