[Reader-list] [Announcements] Navayana: Publishing for Social Change

[Anand]

Dear moderator, could you lease make this announcement that would interest
the Sarai group.
Anand


Navayana: Publishing for Social Change

Dear friend,

My friend Ravikumar and I are launching a new, little publishing house, to
be called 'Navayana'. Please find enclosed a note on ourselves; and a
special offer for those who wish to buy books directly from us.

Navayana literally means 'new vehicle', a term given to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar's
socially and morally concerned, rationalistic, anti-metaphysical
interpretation of Buddhism. This 'liberation theology' of Buddhism is also
called 'engaged Buddhism'. As a publishing venture, Navayana will be a 'new
vehicle' to take forward debates on issues neglected by mainstream
publishers. To start with, Navayana will feature short tracts on a range of
issues related to society, culture, literature, history and politics. The
focus will be on caste, identity politics and religious fundamentalism. In
the tradition of Siddharth Gautama, perhaps the first to introduce the
culture of dialogue and debate with people who held diverse views in the
subcontinent, these books will encourage dialogue and debate on issues the
mainstream does not wish to address.

The first Navayana book, TOUCHABLE TALES (Rs 45), will debate the publishing
and reading of dalit literature in English, which has, of late, witnessed a
spurt. Those on board the debate are:

1. Ravikumar, activist-theoretician of the Dalit movement whose nonfiction
is being translated for Samya
2. Mini Krishnan, translations editor with Oxford University Press
3. Gail Omvedt, historian of the Dalit movement; translator of Vasant Moon's
Vasti
4. K. Satyanarayana who teaches at the Central Institute of English and
Foreign Languages, Hyderabad
5. Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things
6. Alok Mukherjee and Arun Prabha Mukherjee, who teach at York University,
Toronto
7. Sivakami, Tamil dalit author whose translated work is forthcoming from
Orient Longman
8. K.P. Singh who teaches South Asian Studies and Sociology at the Univ. of
Washington
9. Mandira Sen of Samya-Stree, Kolkata
10. Narendra Jadhav, author of Outcaste: A Memoir (Aamcha Baap Aan Mahi)
11. Anand Teltumbde, chronicler of the dalit movement, based in Mumbai

These tracts of 40 to 60 pages will be printed in demy-octavo size with
four-color covers. The production values-design, editorial content-will be
first-rate. Initially, we are planning to bring out 12 books in one year;
that is, a set of four, every four months. The books will be priced in the
range of Rs.40 to Rs.60 in India, depending on the pages (USD 6 per book for
the international market). Initially, Ravikumar and I are putting in our
money... Eventually, we plan to raise some money from interested, committed
individuals; and of course through sales. We welcome suggestions on how we
could make this a sustainable enterprise. We request people with good
contacts/ networking to buy copies in bulk at discount and retail them in
their areas.

The three other books in the first set are:

'POSTMODERNISM AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A SCIENTIFIC REBUTTAL TO HINDU
SCIENCE'-An essay by Meera Nanda, author of 'Breaking the Spell of Dharma
and Other Essays' (Three Essays Collective, New Delhi); a review of the
book; plus an interview with Nanda. (Rs 55)

'AMBEDKAR: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES'-A series of six autobiographical sketches
written by B.R.Ambedkar in 1935 under the title 'Waiting for a Visa'
recounting his experiences of untouchability in his childhood, youth and
adulthood. (Rs 40)

'BRAHMANS AND CRICKET: LAGAAN'S MILLENNIAL PURANA AND OTHER MYTHS'-Two
articles written by S. Anand on the theme of 'cricket and caste': one on
Lagaan, cricket nationalism and dalit exclusion published in Himal in March
2002; the responses by Sudhanva Deshpande, Luban Mariam and others; plus
'The Retreat of the Brahmin' featured in Outlook's cricket world cup special
issue. (Rs 60)

These books will be released on the evening of 5 November 2003 in Chennai at
Landmark, (at Spencer Plaza), by Narendra Jadhav. Jadhav's book Outcaste: A
Memoir, will in turn be released by N.Ram, editor-in-chief of The Hindu. A
panel discussion will follow in which Sivakami, writer, and Kanimozhi, poet,
will participate. Narendra Jadhav will read from his work.

Seeking your support and cooperation to launch this new vehicle,

Ravikumar and Anand

for Navayana
navayana at ambedkar.org

SPECIAL OFFER

Navayana offers you a special price on the set of four books. The cover
price of this set of four is going to be Rs.200. For those placing orders
directly with Navayana, we are offering the set for Rs.170 -15 per cent
less. This will include postage. (For outstation cheques, please add Rs.30
as collection charges.) Delivery time: One week (starting November 5).

Those placing bulk orders of more than 20 books (that is, five sets of the
four books) can avail a set of four at Rs.150 - 25 cent less.

(Those who do not wish to avail the discount, can send us cheques for
Rs.200.)

For overseas buyers, a set of four books will cost USD 20. For overseas
orders, add USD 10 for postage.

Drafts/ cheques should be marked for "NAVAYANA" and addressed to:

Ravikumar
28, Veerabhadrasamy Koil Street
Lawspet, Pondicherry - 605008
Ph: 91-413-2253666

In Chennai contact: S. Anand
Ph: 91-44-24422199/ 24662316


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