Noble initiative

Oxford University Press India with its Global Academic Publishing branch has taken an initiative called “Indian languages publishing programme”. It will include publishing of academic non -fiction books in some of the major Indian languages. In the first phase it has focused on Hindi and Bengali. Published books under this programme will have new titles in local languages as well as translation of the classic blacklist titles. They will be available in digital platform also. With this initiative, OUP has tried to embrace scholarship that is developed in Indian languages. Some of the books launched under this programme are The Defining Moments in Bengal, 1920-1947 by Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, The Illegitimacy of Nationalism by Ashis Nandy, Memoirs of Roads by Sumanta Banerjee, Time as a Metaphor of History by Romila Thapar and The Fissured Land by Madhav Gadgil. The translated books will be available in market across India from January 2018.

E-book launch

McGraw Hill Education India, a learning science company, launched the e-book of India 2017 yearbook for preparation for UPSC, state civil services and other competitive examinations. Written by Rajiv Mehrishi, comptroller and auditor general of India, the e-book is a complete compilation of current affairs of the country. It was unveiled by Vasundhara Raje, chief minister of Rajasthan; Mehrishi and Tanmoy Roychowdhury, director of K-12 product, McGraw Hill Education India.

The e-book includes a plethora of information on important dignitaries, state policy, public schemes and important data related to demographics, trade, economy and many other areas. Additional articles were contributed by a leading group of intellectuals, academics and civil servants. The e-book is available on Google Play Store and Ignitor for easy access and purchase in India and across the world. It can also be used offline once downloaded through the app.

Embracing ethics

XLRI- Xavier School of Management recently hosted the 26th annual JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics. Padma Bhushan recipient and industrialist Jamshed Jiji Irani delivered the oration this year. In his speech, Irani spoke about “My experiences with JRD and his principles” which was the topic of the oration. Irani gave instances of his personal conversations with JRD Tata and his observations of the great visionary. He said in his speech, “JRD always believed that before one could excel in his chosen sphere, that person should be a good man with great credibility. He was always sympathetic towards the needy.”

Irani observed in his speech, “JRD believed that every company has a special continuing responsibility towards the people of the area in which it is located and in which its employees and their families live. I suggest that the most significant contribution organised industry can make is by identifying itself with the life and problems of the people of the community to which it belongs, and by applying its resources, skills and talents, to the extent that it can reasonably spare them to serve and help them.”