At the Red Fort on February 23. The site is featured as the national center of India’s independence day observations, with the flag raised at the Lahori Gate. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Prabhasroy
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘As India Advances Toward 2047’
The Federation of Indian Publishers has announced its 50th anniversary publishers conference for August 11 and 12 at New Delhi’s The Claridges hotel.
In making its theme “India@2047: The Role of Publishing in Nation Building,” the program references, of course, observances of India’s independence day on August 15.
The conference, according to media messaging from the federation, “will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore the pivotal role of publishing in shaping the nation’s future.
“As India emerges as a global powerhouse, the conference will delve into how publishing contributes to economic growth, employment, and the dissemination of knowledge, fostering a culturally rich society.”
Having been suppressed for three years because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, India’s celebrations of its Independence from Britain are to return to a major scale this year, and the publishers’ federation is taking advantage of the moment to examine the book business’ role in social and civic development. The federation reports that it represents some 80 percent of publishers operating in English, Hindi, and other languages, its publisher-members being based in many parts of the country.
“As India advances toward 2047,” media messaging has it, “the conference will examine the industry’s progress amid the digital revolution. Exploring new horizons will empower publishers to meet evolving demands and harness the potential of technology for broader reach, revenue generation, and employment opportunities.”
‘India’s Global Influence on the Rise’
Needless to say, the Indian nation is, in many areas, engaged in self-assessment and evaluations of opportunities. This is the first year in which it will celebrate its independence as the world’s most populous nation. Having surpassed China’s population statistics with its own 1.425 billion people, India is expected to reach a population density of 1.6 billion by 2037—ten years ahead of the 2047 marker.
“With India’s rise as a global power,” the publishers association writes in its precede to the conference, “the event underscores the publishing industry’s significance in building a self-reliant nation. By fostering import-export trade, promoting talent development, and enhancing education and knowledge dissemination, publishing emerges as a driving force for inclusive growth and a catalyst for realizing India’s vision.”
Ramesh Mittal
In a prepared comment, the federation’s president, Ramesh Mittal, is quoted, saying, “While the country is commemorating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav [the nation’s 75th-anniversary program] and preparing to host the G-20 summit [in September], the Federation of Indian Publishers is celebrating its golden jubilee by organizing its Indian Publishers Conference at New Delhi next month.
“Publishers from across India in English and Indian languages and thinkers from different walks of life are expected to attend the conference. Topics including the national education policy, copyright, translation, content monetization, usefulness of data, artificial intelligence, innovations and above all, making India a book-reading nation and knowledge society will be discussed.”
Pranav Gupta
And Pranav Gupta, who is directing the conference, says, “Our ‘Role of Publishing in Nation Building’ program will be a defining moment for the Indian publishing industry as we celebrate 50 years of the Federation of Indian Publishers.
“This conference will showcase our industry’s remarkable growth and immense potential. Publishing plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our nation, contributing to economic development, knowledge dissemination, and fostering a culturally enriched society.
“With India’s global influence on the rise, our conference will explore the transformative power of publishing in building a self-reliant India. Join us as we unleash the power of publishing and shape the trajectory of our great nation towards 2047.”
The federation has the distinction of having hosted both the 24th and 32nd International Publishers Conferences of the International Publishers Association (IPA), in 1992 and 2018 respectively.
More information on the upcoming Indian Publishers Conference is at the federation’s site.
More from Publishing Perspectives on the Indian market is here, more from us on publishing conferences is here, and more on the International Publishers Association is here.
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