CISCE'S new directive on books: Boon or bane for authors and children?

Should CISCE(Council for Indian school examination) encourage books of popular foreign and dead authors instead of promoting home grown children authors as a part of their syllabus? 

(Reference article:
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=Now-study-Amar-Chitra-Katha-Tintin-Potter-in-24112016009050#)

Kahani Takbak asked a few people for their views.

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Asha Narayanan,Principal, Lodha World School, Navi Mumbai:

“The CISCE has always had the freedom to pick references from the wide variety of relevant and age appropriate material around us. Now it has gone one step further in spelling out a few of these. The idea is to stimulate the reader's imagination. The move is welcome. And since this variety is from their vocabulary of books, students will take to it like a fish to water.”

Paro Anand, Author of upcoming book Two (Scholastic India):

I think it is a wonderful initiative to get better and more contemporary literature into classrooms and I commend the think tank that has incorporated this idea. Having said that, I have two reservations. We have to HAVE to start including contemporary Indian fiction in such initiatives. Authors, illustrators and publishers are doing some marvelous work and children love it. But if it gets left out of such a list, then, frankly everyone loses instead of gaining. Secondly, we have to also be able to educate teachers on how best to use these books within the classroom. Otherwise, we get only half the benefit.

 

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 Sangeeta Bhansali, Book curator and owner of Kahani Tree:

I feel this move is in the right direction to update school syllabuses and make them more relevant, topical and interesting.  I don't think school boards should design their curriculum to promote Indian or foreign authors, living or dead, but to give the children an exposure and understanding of the best literature available to ignite their curiosity, open their minds to new concepts and cultures, and inspire them to dream big and encourage them to make this world a better place.  And of course, I hope that they do while balance the traditional with the contemporary, the Indian with the international.  

Deepak Dalal,author of the recently released Feather Tales( Puffin):

 ICSE board should promote good, interesting and current literature in our schools, and the books should be a mix of Indian and international authors. The goal should be to captivate children with books and reading. Harry Potter stories are great reads; so are Tolkein's Lord of the Rings books. Books like these will help promote reading. Autobiographies of inspirational people are a good idea too. In addition to these, books by current Indian fiction writers should also be considered.

This piece was created exclusively for the December  2016 issue of Kahani Takbak newsletter.

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