International Conference on Digital Libraries and Knowledge Organization took place at Management Development Institute from 14-16 February 2011.

 

Taylor & Francis Group participated in the three day conference along with 15 other publishers. We showcased all our Journals and Online Resources Products covering vast subject areas of Science, Technology, Humany & Social Science.

 

 

 

The conference was attended by more than 300 researchers, scholars, professors and Librarians.  Held at the lush green garden at MDI with the drizzling rain it was a wonderful experience interacting with all attendees of the conference and taking their feedback.

Fresh Start

In the capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, or TVM as it is often referred to as, lives my maternal grandmother’s older sister. She is well over 90 years old (she has been 82 years old for the past 15 years, I think) and she lives alone in a house, away from the rest of the family. To live alone was her decision. I can almost see her sitting in her favorite chair, strategically placed right in front of the TV where she watches her favorite serials---The Bold and The Beautiful, Santa Barbara and other such ‘scandalous’ American serials that a woman her age should not be watching. Or so her neighbors think. When she is not catching up on her serials, she can be found supervising her maid, with the latest English novel (romance or thriller) tucked under her arm. And if you think she is old and frail, let me tell you that she runs like a 16-year-old and climbs stairs faster than any teenager. I know this for sure because she humiliated my entire family by running around a palace we had gone to visit, while we trailed breathlessly. She is just one of the elderly people in my family who chose to live away from their children, to live without any interference. Her son had a tough time trying to get her to move in with him and his family but then later, he respected her decision. Her children and grandchildren now visit her.

And then there is another house in tucked away in Kerala. When I last visited that house, I was greeted by a house full of elderly people who can be best described as being drunk on life. The youngest of them was nearly 70. Although there are old-age homes in Kerala, this group of oldies comprised like-minded cousins who decided to live under the same roof. They had set aside some money for themselves, signed off property and money in favor of their loved ones and decided to move in together. And it was a joy to watch them gathered in the sprawling living room. Like all our ancestral homes, this house had about 10 bedrooms besides other rooms. While each of the 6 to 7 residents has a room to himself/herself, the spare bedrooms were kept for their children, grandchildren, and other relatives who wished to visit for a few days. They had a few maids and nurses to help them around but otherwise, they are quite independent and very comfortable. I think their toothless grins and smiles speak volumes about the relaxed life they lead, and most importantly, in their own terms.

It was fascinating to watch these grandparents, great grandparents, and in some cases, even great, great grandparents (including my great, great grand uncle) interact among themselves. The youngest man of the house is still bossed by his elder sister. He pouts and complains and yet does her bidding. Of course, all this is the usual drama. They love complaining about each other and taking a jibe at each other. They fight, they fuss, and it was evident that they shared their pains and joys along with medications and advices. The best part is, of course, that they are happy to be with their brothers and sisters, spending the last of their days in company of people they grew up with. It seemed that once they came together, they stopped playing the role as the pillar of their respective family. They were now free to become kids again---the 89-year-old man was again a 6-year-old kid in knickers, the 97-year-old cousin was again a 20-year-old dandy young man, the 103-year-old toothless granny grinning from her rocking chair was now 16-year-old pigtailed girl, and the stubborn 70-year-old fluffing his much older sister’s pillow was the pimply, irritating cousin who followed his elder siblings everywhere once upon a time.

While I sat there listening to their conversation, I realized that at some point of time, they had started talking amongst themselves, having but almost completely forgotten my presence. I suddenly felt like an intruder amidst them. They were in their own world, reminiscing, sharing anecdotes of their lives, each other’s lives, with my family. There was something so pure and innocent about the way they lived together that I wished that they all lived happily like this for as long as they wished. When I finally walked out of the house, I could still my heart warm with the laughter they shared. Who said growing old has to be sad or something to fear? I had found a perfect set of people who had accepted their age as a fresh start to a new life. They really proved that age is just a number and age is really just how old you feel.

Sangeeta Menon

The Kolkata Book Fair 2011

This is great news and I wanted to share it with you. For the first time, Taylor & Francis India participated in the 35th International Kolkata Book Fair 2011 from 26th January to 6th February this year. Kolkata Book Fair is one the few biggest book fairs in the world and saw participation of more than 650 publishers; both Indian and international. The theme was United States of America.


It gives me great pleasure to inform that Taylor & Francis Group won the “Best Stall” award in the small category. During the prize ceremony, it was announced that the “Best Stall”, judged by a panel of esteemed judges took into account various factors, such as aesthetics, material displayed, design, presentation, promotional material use, brand building, best behaviour and the crowd..

All of our books imprints along with journals and online resources were displayed.

The prize was handed over to Sanjay Dutta, our regional manager for the eastern region by Mr. Tridib Chatterjee, Secretary, Publisher and Booksellers Guild with the US counsel general Mr. Chad P. Cummins gracing the occasion. It’s a beautiful silver plaque with the Taylor & Francis name inscribed on it .

Of course, we are very proud and excited; and I couldn’t wait to share the news with you.

With all good wishes


Shafina

Wikipedia

As we all know Wikipedia, a collaborative free online encyclopedia celebrating its 10th anniversary. To commemorate this Pew Internet & American Life Project and other media houses have published some interesting facts about Wikipedia. Please visit the following link to know more about and celebrate the democratization of Information.

Wikipedia: Past and present:
http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP_Wikipedia.pdf

What has a decade of Wikipedia meant to you?:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Media-Mentions/2011/Washington-Post-Wikipedia.aspx

53 percent of online Americans use Wikipedia
http://www.pewinternet.org/Media-Mentions/2011/msnbc-Wikipedia.aspx

Shafina

River Rafting In Rishikesh

It was a sudden decision by boys on the 9^th floor to go for an adventure … After a long debate freezing on ‘River Rafting in Rishikesh’ was decided … dates were finalized and then postponed … thrice … and finally one fine day we all gathered at 10:00 pm here in Tolstoy House & boarded the bus to “Camp Wonderlust”, Rishikesh ...the rest of the story follows … pictorially.

Our Journey for the great adventure began in a high spirit (Hic!)

We started at 11:00 pm

 

A Mid way stopover for mid night meal …..Delicious Aloo Parantha’s and Special Chai!

We reached our destination at 5:30 am…. But could only locate the sign board of our camp! Airtel did not buzz at this spot and we all were in a fix.

Then… some of our daredevils receded in pitch dark to an unknown Pagdandi going down the hills to locate our camp & were lucky to find the camp by the side of a beautiful beach!  But these Buggers forgot to intimate us who were waiting for some news amidst the bone chilling wind.

We were worried...And then suddenly Shamim shouted “Hey I have two dandi’s of signal on my vodaphone….we called one of our daredevils and he replied “Hey guy’s we found the camp & it’s so beautiful down here…. come down you all and don’t forget to get our luggage (Grrrr!)

 

Anyway ….it was a real site as we came down almost 700 meters on a zig zag track with extra luggage….

Beach Volley  ball at 7:00am was great experience!!

A hot cup of Masala Chai as a welcome drink was really refreshing.

At 10:am we climbed-up 700 meters (no luggage this time..Luckily!) and boarded our bus and went to the starting point of our rafting adventure called ….Marine drive. All looked damn sporty in the rafting gears…

It was a 25 km long journey in the great Ganges…..we had to take two rafts….to face the 12 great Rapids…..4 of these were really challenging!

It was a real fun!!

Splashhhh while on the raft….. When guys were told that they are in the middle of a depth of 150 feet deep river Ganges…  Everyone jumped back to the raft!!

There was a mid way halt ….this was a crowded spot with many other rafters taking a break for a 20 feet deep jump in to water….three of our teams members Vikram, Deepak & Ankit took the jump….

Camp fire and some ghost stories were on menu at the night.

Believe me….food at the camp was great!!

And the fire burnt till 2 am in the night despite the govt’s order to end it by 12 am....

Next day morning too, was great!

It was all on the rocks!

And the guy’s got the time to show off during the open bath at the camp beach…..

This camping proved to be a good team bonding exercise…………..

Some Great Poses…..

We all looked Great!

Time to set back home…..

Mid way Ganna break ……inspired by Rajiv was a great fun…..

On the way back the adventure showed ………………

It was a beautiful landscape at the Moolchands Resort near Khatauli …..An ideal place for meals on the way back….

We will go there again!

Christmas Party on 24th December 2010

We decided to say goodbye to 2010, and celebrate Christmas in style with Champagne, a Christmas Concert, a delicious Chrsitmas Cake and lots of fun and laughter!

Here are some pics of the time well spend:

Many Thanks

The Marketing Team