Books and beyond
For people who love books and reading, this is a happy time of year, being the season of literary festivals and book fairs in many parts of the country. While book fairs allow many small and regional language publishers to showcase their catalogues, literary festivals provide a forum for both seasoned and new authors to interact with audiences. One observer estimates that there are over 400 literary festivals held across India – suggesting this is not a phenomenon that is limited to big cities!
This year, I had the opportunity to visit the Hyderabad Book Fair and also participate in the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF), and even as I emerged from both with more books than I have shelf space for, I came away with a sense that all is well with the printed word even in this age of screen-immersion. At both events, I saw parents with young children in tow, teachers shepherding lines of uniform-clad pupils, young people lining up to get books signed by admired authors, and people of all ages lingering over stacks of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Between sessions at the HL, I noted children with their noses buried in a book, or taking part in one of the many additional activities that have now become an integral part of the event. These included storytelling, art and craft workshops, and stalls set up by scientific institutions that aimed to stoke curiosity and wonder and just possibly, nudge young people toward a career in science. There was much to stimulate thought and crafts to involve the hands.
We’ve written before in Teacher Plus about the value of engaging with the real world, about seeking and using opportunities to take children out of school and into the field. Granted, it’s not always easy to organize and does call for some commitment of resources, but it’s almost always worth the effort. For teachers too, such events can stoke new ideas and at the very least, point to new books for use in the classroom or for the library – I’m sure you’ll agree that browsing at the stalls beats staring at a printed catalogue anyday!
Our cover story this month takes on the vexing issue of the gender imbalance in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in India. Long-time contributor Simran Luthra examines the relatively low presence of women at higher levels in these fields, even though there has been a steady increase in the number of girls taking science and engineering courses. The notion of the “leaky pipeline” has been a matter of concern globally – why and where do the women drop off and what is the impact of their absence in these fields? Yet, there are women who inspire us with their staying power and dedication, as Divya Chowdary writes in a companion piece. What can we as teachers do to encourage girls to “stay with the [science] programme” as they move up the education ladder? Seeing more women at close quarters occupying leadership roles can be quite inspiring, allowing young girls to imagine the possibility. At HLF for instance, children were able to listen to Sowmya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, and environmentalists like Janaki Lenin – and, even better, pick up their books!