How the Celebration of Children's Books at the Neev Literature Festival has become its own Success Story

Neev Academy's hidden literary revolution in Bellandur, Bengaluru, celebrates Indian children's literature at the Neev Literature Fest.

on Oct 30, 2023

How the Celebration of Children's Books at the Neev Literature Festival has become its own Success Story | Frontlist

A hidden literary revolution is emerging in a remote part of Bengaluru.
Bellandur, noted for its frothy lake, is also the location of Neev Academy, which is primarily responsible for the unexpected surge in interest in Indian children's literature. Through the two-day Neev Literature Fest (NLF), Neev Academy has quietly championed Indian children's literature for the past seven years. Neev Academy, a primarily self-funded festival, has been responsible for bringing all stakeholders in the Indian children's literature sector together and promoting the symbiotic interaction between creators and readers.

As I approached the Academy's gates, I anticipated to see a few tables, maybe one room with lectures, and a few families milling about. I could not have been more mistaken. Panel talks, book launches, book readings, and performances were held in four separate outdoor sites. First-floor classrooms for masterclasses, as well as an extensive section for book sales and signings. On the first day, over 3,000 participants sifted through the comprehensive schedule of sessions, marking those they intended to attend. When children spotted their beloved authors and noticed the perfect opportunity for a snap picture, there was a hum of book talk in the air and grins all around!

Childhood and narratives
'What Is Childhood Without Stories?' was the topic of the 2023 Neev Literature Festival.

What is childhood if not for stories?

"We may not always remember maths and algebra," remarked award-winning author Venita Coelho, "but we will always remember the stories we read in school." "Everything that has become a memory or a learning is because of stories," acknowledged performance artist and storyteller Kapil Pandey.

They are powerful, they help you reflect, they challenge your viewpoint, and they are vital." Robin Page, international best-selling author, stated, "Our books and stories try to excite a child into thinking about their surroundings and their environment, and to encourage a child to be curious and ask questions."

The goal of this subject was to establish a space with ideas for children to observe and learn from writers, publishers, storytellers, and educators, as well as to provide a platform for them to discuss issues that are important to children today. Childhood stories nowadays aren't just about peaceful picnic meals under majestic trees or mythical animals from other countries. It also addresses climate change, gender issues, artificial intelligence and robotics, and possible voyages to other planets. As a result, the festival became the ideal venue for all stakeholders to engage in these talks with children through books, workshops, and panel discussions.

"With the pandemic, AI, and so much information that children receive, we thought we should broaden the scope of the festival," said Karthika Gopalkrishnan, director of the Neev Literature Festival. "So we thought it would be nice to bring in serious discussions on parenting, sessions for educators, and aspects like AI, as well as bring in psychologists who have written on mental health and have them have discussions with writers who have written on similar themes." We were looking at the basis of our messaging being stories, but adding more to it with stuff that touches children's life today, because we wanted a broader vision of childhood. As a result, What's Childhood Without Stories was born."

There is something for everyone.

The festival truly had something for everyone. There were 15-minute book readings for the very young, and the authors had them laughing out loud. Goshtarang also performed 10-minute sets during which children danced and sang along. There were masterclasses for young writers who were inquisitive about why their beloved author wrote their favourite novel and maybe even get a few hints on how to write their own.

Several books were launched, with the author introducing their work, followed by a brief activity. There were also sessions for parents and teachers. For a seminar on post-pandemic parenting, NLF brought together psychiatrist Pramit Rastogi, novelist and teen mom Shabnam Minwalla, and author Tanu Shree Singh. Author and social worker Jane De Suza gave an informative talk on how technology and societal change will impact the way we interact in the future.

There were also the Neev Book Awards, where winners were announced in four categories ranging from Best Picture Book to Best Young Adult Book. Add to that a thriving marketplace brimming with Indian and Western Kid-lit, where books flew off the shelves and were continually refilled.

While I enjoyed the sessions, learned from the masterclasses, and met the most wonderful people from the world of children's literature, what made me the happiest was witnessing thousands of people converge on the festival over two days to celebrate the world of children's books. A place where children were not coerced or coaxed and parents were not rushed. Everyone smiled, chatted, and appeared to be having a good time telling stories.