How ‘global curiosity’ can make Indian books part of the country’s soft power
India brings out 90,000 new titles every year, “out of which approximately 40 per cent are in English language alone”
By Amit RoyMar 22, 2024
THE world needs books from India because they reflect the spiritual values of Indian culture and civilisation.
“Books are important for mental health,” said Yuvraj Malik, director of the National Book Trust (NBT) of India, which took a pavilion for the first time at the 2024 London Book Fair.
Next year the NBT, which was set up by the Indian ministry of education in 1957 “to encourage and promote books and reading”, would return bigger and better and bring many more publishers and authors from India, Malik promised.
Books from India can be part of the country’s soft power, he agreed.
“There is global curiosity about India,” he said. “There is opportunity for us. The plan is to take Indian content globally and sell the copyright. There would be no need to send the books (physically) from India. They could be printed in the west.” He had brought samples published by the NBT, covering “history, culture, biography, art and children’s books”.
For example, the NBT catalogue includes a book on the exchange of letters between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore; biographies of the Swatantra party leader Minoo Masani and the scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose; and one on women scientists in India.
India brings out 90,000 new titles every year, “out of which approximately 40 per cent are in English language alone, which makes India the second largest publisher of books in English after the US, thus outstripping the UK”.
The one independent publisher that came to London this year with the NBT is the Vani Prakashan Group. It was represented by its executive director, Aditi Maheswari-Goyal, who spoke to Eastern Eye about the deeper values reflected in Indian books.
She said: “We want to promote Hindi authors all over the world. And the UK is the seat of English language and literature. So, it would be an absolute pleasure to see our literature, our expressions, aesthetics, move into this part of the world where we have the diaspora.”
She added: “The humanitarian aspect, the sense of understanding of the natural world, the alchemy between the physical and the metaphysical so sorted in the Indian philosophy, is the need of the hour for world literature.”
Maheswari-Goyal referred to “the environmental crisis, the malnutrition crisis, the problem for women across the globe, the LGBTQ community” and commented: “Indian scriptures have shown the way how to be inclusive for everybody in society.”
An illustration from the book Birds and Animals in Indian Art.
She did business studies at Glasgow University after first doing her BA and MA in English literature from Hansraj College in Delhi University and an MPhil from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The French government honoured her by making her a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
She told Eastern Eye of the books Vani Prakashan had published.
One is Coolie Lines about Indian indentured labourers who went to Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji and other countries, written by Praveen Kumar Jha, a radiologist in Norway. It was first published in Hindi – it went into four editions, each with 1,100 to 1,500 copies, “which is pretty decent for Hindi press”. It was translated then into English.
“Because diaspora studies across the globe are getting a lot of attention, this book is in a reference list of three major universities: Texas University in Austin, Oxford, and the Bay Atlantic University Washington,” she explained.
Along with taking Indian literature abroad, she was also acquiring global rights for books published abroad. She gave two examples from Norway which had been translated into English.
One was Here Lay Tirpitz by Ingrid Storholmen about the sinking of the German battleship during the Second World War. “We were going to publish it in January 2024. But when the Ukraine-Russian war broke out, we brought the publication forward because we thought that was the right time. The message was very clear –that wars are unnecessary.”
The other was Black Calf @ White Snow by Hans Sande. “It is a book where a little calf runs away from the mother. This is a magic realism novel where the mother cow is writing an email to the child about the futile ways of the world. She is trying to tell the calf about what happens in slaughter houses, how your emotions will be crippled, and why you should not run away from your mother and should come back.”
Maheswari-Goyal has discovered selfhelp books that sell millions in the west do not necessarily do well when translated into Hindi. She explained. “Selfhelp for a Hindi audience is very spiritually driven. And when I say spiritually driven, I don’t mean religious. Our basic way of life is to get up early, take snan (bath) every day, do your work, do your pranayama (ancient breathing exercises), go to your elders (to pay your respects). Our way of life is very different. Our family systems are still intact. We are not so isolated in the way isolation has caught up in the west. There is a very different kind of self-help market in India.
She has published all 29 books by the Bangladeshi writer, Taslima Nas - rin, including Lajja (Shame), about a Hindu family besieged by Islamist fundamentalists in Bangladesh.
“We have sold 500,000 copies of the book,” she said. “Lajja was a path bre-aker. Taslima has stood up for demo - cratic freedoms. When she was in hiding in France, she wrote a beauti-ful poem in Bengali, ‘I eat my pasta or sandwich with my right hand and wave away the flies with the left as I do back home.’ Of course, there are no flies in France.”
Hindi readers were now willing to pay `1,900 for a hardback edition of the biography of the poet and film - maker, Gulzar. “Two editions, with 2,000 copies, have sold out.”
Yuvraj Malik
She consulted her father, Vani Prakashan’s founder, before publish-ing Kamukata Ka Utsav (the festival of erotica), edited by Jayanti Rangna - than, in Hindi. “This story collection caused an earthquake in the Hindi public sphere. I said, ‘Dad, should we do it? You’re going to get some very scary calls, that your daughter is go-ing to ruin your empire.’ He said, ‘If the stories are good, do it.’ Conservative pundits criticised it and said, ‘Lit - erature has come down to this (low level).’ But the readers loved it.”
Maheshwari-Goyal said: “My idea is that we need to constantly keep pushing existing mindsets and pat - terns. Most Indian languages have that capacity because they’ve seen various phases of our history. These languages have registered our status as a colonised nation, our status as an independent nation and our status now as the upcoming world leader.
“So our language is a memory keeper, a reservoir, a witness of our history and future. They are so flexi-ble, and very capable to carry forward our narrative. It is upon us to make our languages stretchable enough and to use it as a tool of expression of our contemporary times.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas says she’s just getting started in Hollywood.
Stars as a fierce MI6 agent alongside Idris Elba and John Cena.
Gets into serious action mode with explosions, helicopters, and hand-to-hand combat.
Says her journey is still evolving, with much more to explore in the West.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas may have ruled Bollywood for over two decades, but the global star believes she’s still “nascent” in her Hollywood journey, and that’s what makes it exciting.
The Quantico and Citadel actor stars in the new Amazon Prime Video film Heads of State, playing a sharp MI6 agent named Noel Bisset. Her character has a complicated history with British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (played by Idris Elba) and is tasked with protecting him and the newly elected US President Will Derringer (John Cena) when they're attacked before a major NATO conference.
Priyanka Chopra calls herself nascent in Hollywood as 'Heads of State' streams on Prime VideoGetty Images
In a chat with PTI, Priyanka said she’s proud of her Indian film career and now wants to build an equally diverse portfolio in the West.
“It’s constant evolution for sure. I would’ve never imagined in 2002, when I did my first movie, that I’d be here today,” she said. “I feel like I’m really nascent in my work in the West. I have a major filmography in India, across genres and with amazing filmmakers. I want to build on that in English-language work too. There’s a lot more to do and explore, and I’m excited to see what unfolds.”
Over the years, Priyanka has taken on major Hollywood roles in Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, Love Again, and, of course, her breakout lead role in Quantico.
With Heads of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller, she says she had a blast, literally. From gun battles and hand-to-hand fights to explosive helicopter sequences, the film puts her action skills to the test once again.
“I want to be proud of the work I do. I try to choose characters with agency, not just ornamental roles,” she said. “This was a fun movie to do, and I’m really proud of what I did with this character.”
Priyanka Chopra wants to build her English film portfolio after Bollywood successGetty Images
The action-heavy film gave her the chance to collaborate with WWE legend-turned-actor John Cena for the first time, even though they started their careers around the same time in the early 2000s.
“I’ve known of John since his WWE days. He’s so popular in India; it’s hard not to know him,” she laughed. “When he transitioned to movies, I found his choice of roles really interesting. So I was very excited to work with him.”
Priyanka added that Cena is just as funny off-screen as he is on it, something that made their scenes easier and more spontaneous.
“He’s got great comedic timing even in real life. That helps a lot, especially when you're improvising on set.”
Talking about the film’s high-octane stunts, Priyanka gave full credit to the crew.
“Actors are only as good as the teams around us, especially in a movie like this. We had an incredible stunt team and a visionary director who storyboarded nearly every shot. He knew exactly how high a helicopter needed to be or how big an explosion should look. When you’re surrounded by such a solid technical team, you feel confident and capable, no matter which country you’re filming in.”
Ilya Naishuller, Priyanka Chopra and John Cena attend the special screening for "Head of State" Getty Images
The ensemble cast also includes Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and Sarah Niles. The film is produced by Peter Safran and John Rickard.
As she continues balancing work across continents, Priyanka Chopra says one thing remains unchanged: her drive to grow.
“Success is constant evolution,” she said. “And I feel like I’m just getting started out here.”
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Arijit Singh becomes most followed musician on Spotify
• Arijit Singh makes global music history with 151 million Spotify followers
• Surpasses Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in follower count
• Still trails in monthly listeners with 47.4 million vs. The Weeknd's 112.2 million
• Other Indians in top 25 include A R Rahman, Pritam, and Neha Kakkar
Indian playback sensation Arijit Singh has achieved a record-breaking milestone by becoming the most followed artist on Spotify, beating global icons Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in the process. With a staggering 151 million followers, the Tum Hi Ho singer now tops the list of most followed musicians on the streaming giant, according to updated rankings released by data tracking platforms Chartmasters and Volt.fm earlier this week.
Swift, one of the world’s top pop stars, holds second place with 139.6 million followers, while Ed Sheeran, who recently released an India-inspired track titled Sapphire, follows at number three with 121 million.
Although Singh leads in follower count, the monthly listener figures tell a different story. Arijit clocks in at 47.4 million monthly listeners. In comparison, The Weeknd leads with 112.2 million, followed by Ed Sheeran (98.4 million), Billie Eilish (95.1 million), and Taylor Swift (82.3 million).
This difference highlights a key distinction: followers represent loyal fans who want updates on future releases, while listeners are users who stream the artist’s songs during a given period, often influenced by recent trends or viral hits.
Arijit Singh clicked during a performance Getty Images
Indians on the global Spotify map
Arijit isn’t the only Indian name on the coveted list. A R Rahman sits at No. 14 with 65.6 million followers, Pritam is 21st with 53.4 million, and Neha Kakkar holds the 25th spot at 48.5 million. Legendary icons from the golden era of Indian music also feature Lata Mangeshkar at the 100th rank (22 million followers) and Kishore Kumar is 144th (16 million), proving their enduring legacy across generations.
From reality show to stadium shows
Arijit Singh’s journey is a modern-day music fairy tale. The 38-year-old first appeared on the TV reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. But it wasn’t until 2013 that he truly arrived, thanks to the soulful blockbuster Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2, which turned him into an overnight star. Since then, he’s been the go-to voice for every mood: heartbreak (Channa Mereya), longing (Raabta), celebration (Kesariya), and everything in between (Phir Le Aaya Dil, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil).
Now, Arijit is taking his voice global once again with a major live concert at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, solidifying his place not just as India’s favourite singer, but a global music force to reckon with.
GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.
A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.
According to the 76-page report, GMP is handling ongoing investigations involving 714 identified victims and 1,099 suspects. These are described as “multi-victim, multi-offender” cases, reflecting the complex and organised nature of many of the crimes under investigation.
Michelle Skeer, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said that since 2019, GMP has taken steps to improve how it handles both historic and ongoing abuse cases. “It is clear that the force has, for many years, been trying to provide a better service to those who have or may have experienced sexual exploitation,” she said. “But for some, trust and confidence in the police had been lost.”
The report praised the leadership of chief constable Sir Stephen Watson and his team, noting a cultural shift within the force. Senior officers have made child protection a top priority, personally engaging with staff to reinforce its importance. “Investigating child sexual exploitation is now considered everyone’s business,” the report stated.
GMP is the only police force in the UK with a dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT), formed in 2021.
The unit has around 100 staff and a ring-fenced budget. It applies the same specialist tactics used for tackling serious organised crime, which has already resulted in 42 convictions and over 430 years of prison sentences for offenders.
According to the report, the delay in sharing crucial data from local councils, particularly Manchester City Council, which was criticised for submitting evidence so heavily redacted that some pages contained only a few words.
These delays have hindered investigations such as Operations Green Jacket and Bernese—cases linked to historic abuse in South Manchester, including the death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia in 2003.
Manchester City Council said legal restrictions around personal data sharing led to redactions, but it has since introduced a new evidence-sharing process with police, allowing investigators remote access to unredacted documents.
Sir Stephen acknowledged past failures and issued a renewed apology. “I am sorry that when you needed us, we were not there for you,” he said. “To those who are responsible for these repugnant crimes – as is now very apparent – we will pursue you relentlessly.”
A report by Baroness Louise Casey previously found a significant over-representation of Asian men among child sexual abuse suspects in Greater Manchester. While this remains a sensitive issue, Sir Stephen noted it was a “legitimate question” that could be addressed in a future national inquiry.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who commissioned the review, said he was “confident” the system is now in a stronger place. “Never again will any child here be labelled or dismissed when they come forward to report concerns,” he said. Burnham added that the reforms had sparked a “widespread culture change” across police, councils, and care services.
A separate Ofsted report backed these findings, acknowledging "much good practice" but calling for continued vigilance, especially in how agencies respond to missing children and those at risk of exploitation as they approach adulthood.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been approached for a comment.
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This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)
THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.
Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.
The council says major changes are needed to avoid the “potentially dangerous”, “massive” crowds that gather each year for the Hindu festival of light. The celebrations, widely considered to be the largest outside of India, have been branded a “victim of their own success” by the authority.
The changes have been announced after “serious concerns” about public safety were raised by the Diwali safety advisory group, the council said. It claimed the current set-up was branded “no longer fit for purpose” and that “urgent action” needed to be taken. “Several meetings” have since been held to consider options, the authority added.
These included potentially relocating the event to Abbey Park or Leicester city centre. However, the decision was made, following engagement with Belgrave businesses, to keep the celebrations in their historic home.
This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. More than 6,000 lights will be installed along the Golden Mile and the Wheel of Light will also return this year, the council added.
Assistant city mayor for culture Vi Dempster said: “Unfortunately, Leicester’s annual Diwali festival has become a victim of its own success. We’re being strongly advised by our emergency service partners and crowd control experts that it cannot continue safely in its current format due to the unrestricted and growing crowd numbers that it attracts, and that’s a warning we must take extremely seriously.
“We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We also understand the depth of feeling to see it continue on the Golden Mile where it began over 40 years ago. To do that, we must ensure that it can take place safely. That must be paramount.”
The major changes follow a stripped-back celebration last year after the council decided to cancel the annual light switch-on due to financial difficulties, focusing on just the Diwali Day celebrations itself. The authority said at the time that costs for staging the dual events had skyrocketed from £189,000 in 2018 to a staggering £250,000 in 2023.
Graham Callister, the city council’s head of festivals, events and cultural policy, said: “Diwali has been a real highlight of the city’s festival calendar and attracts thousands of people who come from far and wide to join in the celebrations on the Golden Mile. However, we are now being advised by our emergency service partners and event security providers that we have reached the point where the growing crowds and sheer volume of people attending is causing significant concern about public safety.
“Scaling back on event infrastructure and activity means there will be the additional space needed – and more importantly less congestion – to safely welcome the crowds that want to celebrate on Belgrave Road.”
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Liam Gallagher arrives for the special screening of Oasis documentary "Supersonic"
Liam Gallagher issued an apology after using a racial slur in a now-deleted social media post.
The offensive post appeared just days before Oasis kicked off their reunion tour in Cardiff.
Fans criticised the singer on X, prompting him to clarify it was unintentional.
Oasis will perform over 40 shows globally, starting 5 July in Wales.
Liam Gallagher has apologised for using a racial slur in a post on X, as Oasis reunites for their first tour in 15 years. The singer shared a one-word reply on Monday that included a derogatory term aimed at East Asian people. Though he quickly deleted it, screenshots circulated online, sparking widespread criticism.
In a follow-up post on Tuesday, Gallagher wrote: “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. Peace and love LG x.”
Liam Gallagher accepts Oasis' award for 'Best Album of 30 Years' Getty Images
Racial slur prompts public response ahead of tour
The post, now deleted, triggered a wave of reactions from fans, some calling the language racist. One user replied, “Liam you can’t say that,” to which Gallagher initially responded, “Why.” After further backlash, another fan warned he could get “cancelled,” prompting Gallagher to retort, “Whatever.” These responses only heightened the controversy before his eventual apology.
The term used by Gallagher has long been condemned for mocking East Asian accents and was especially criticised during the pandemic when anti-Asian hate incidents increased globally.
— (@)
Oasis set for comeback after 15-year hiatus
The controversy comes at a pivotal moment for Gallagher. Oasis, the Britpop band he co-founded with his brother Noel, is preparing for a major reunion tour kicking off Friday, 5 July, in Cardiff, Wales. The tour will include over 40 concerts across the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, and Mexico, running through November.
The band split in 2009 after years of personal tensions, but recent announcements, including an upcoming concert film directed by Steven Knight, have fuelled excitement around their long-awaited return.
Liam Gallagher plays to a sell out crowd at the Universal AmphitheatreGetty Images
Fans react with mixed emotions
While some fans expressed disappointment over the singer’s comments, others welcomed his apology and are focused on the upcoming shows. Gallagher has been active on social media in recent weeks, hyping the tour and interacting with fans, including praising a prankster who trolled Green Day with a cheeky rendition of Wonderwall.
Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together in Cardiff for the first time since 2009 Instagram/oasis
As Oasis returns to the stage, the incident may linger, but it remains to be seen whether it will cast a shadow over one of the most anticipated tours of the year.