KATHA IN FRANKFURT

It doesn't get any bigger than this.

The Frankfurt Book Fair is where it's at. Where the largest publishing houses will compete. Where books from every corner of the world, written by the best writers, the greatest translators and the most excellent of illustrators will submit their work. Where they will be presented as a collective whole, to the audience. It is any publisher's dream. And the delight of any lover of books.

This year, India is the Guest of Honour. For the second time, at a moment when its economy in general, and publishing in particular is enjoying a phase of rapid commercial and creative development.

India has always been a land of storytellers. Over the centuries, we have honed the fine art of telling the short story - be it in our epics, our mythologies, our folktales or in our more recent writings. Told by traditional Katha vachaks, village storytellers and one's favourite grandmother, we have all heard stories that have taught us our values, our morals, our culture. "Katha" or the narrative is a special legacy that continues to exist in our country as a rich and fascinating tradition, moving with grace and felicity from the oral traditions to the written texts, from the heard word to the read.

"India is one of the largest emerging markets in the world," Jurgen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, says. "We are looking forward to presenting in Frankfurt the great changes that have taken place in India over the past 20 years."

Katha too, has a vision. To spread the joy of reading, knowing, and living amongst adults and children, the common reader and the neo-literate. To establish a code of excellence in all that it does, to enhance the quality of life in every project it has attempted.

And that is why, we present, at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the best of India translated. Our writers come from every corner of India - from the unexplored Northeast to the fiery deserts of the West. From snowy Northern peaks, to the rolling plains of the Deccan, the tapering lands of the South. Our translators are the bridges that connect languages. They hear, see and write words, capture images in another language, that others may also perceive the joy of the written word in a bhaasha they do not know. Our illustrators bring a story to life. They make you turn the pages. They make you gasp in awe at the sheer beauty and magic of their pens, brushes and pencils. They are the best of the best.

Do visit us here, at the Frankfurt Book Fair:

Hall No 5.0, Stall No: D 9217

The following authors will be present at the stall, to do select book reads, and share their thoughts about their award-winning works:

Indira Goswami : "The Man from Chinnamasta"
Gurdial Singh: "The Survivors"

Alka Saroagi : " Over to you, Kadambari"
Kiran Nagarkar : "Seven 6s are 43"
UN Singh: "Second person Singular"

We're looking forward to having you with us.

After all ... as Katha's Executive Director, Geeta Dharmarajan says,

"Finding the full moon is no fun. It is the quest for third crescents, that hint of glow, that elusive nuance in a story that makes Katha’s work creative."