Zubaan critical conversations series
New Delhi, 12 November 2013: Attitudes to sex, sexuality, one’s own and other peoples’ bodies are formed early in life. Are we doing enough to address these issues in school today? How are questions of gender and sexuality raised or addressed in the classroom? Is sex education the answer, or is it part of the problem?
Oxford Bookstore Connaught Place hosted the third Zubaan critical conversation series, ‘‘Let’s Talk about Sex: The Challenge for Indian Schools’’ on 12th November 2013. The engaging talk involved a lively discussion with distinguished panelists namely, Shalini Advani, Director, Pathways School; activist and performer Pramada Menon; Ishita Chaudhry of The YP Foundation; and filmmaker and author, Pankaj Butalia. The event was moderated by Anita Roy, senior editor, Young Zubaan. The panelists enunciated their views on the need to incorporate sex education in the school curriculum, both for children and parents, and their ideas on consent and power involved around sex.
Zubaan is an independent non-profit publishing house. It grew out of India’s first Feminist publishing house, Kali for Women. Founded by Urvashi Butalia, who was co-founder of Kali for Women, Zubaan was set up to specifically continue Kali’s work. Zubaan, has inherited half the backlist of Kali so that reprints of many backlist titles are assured. Oxford Bookstore is full heartedly supporting Zubaan by hosting a series of critical conversation series.
Oxford Bookstore Connaught Place offers a carefully curated list of titles for booklovers to browse through and buy and perhaps the world’s largest assortment of teas in the hip Cha Bar, to create a holistic experience for book lovers. The entrance leading to the bookstore houses a big Neon Wall, a cloud of words in English-Hindi-Latin that envelopes book lovers in a universe of emotions linked to reading. Inside, in the tranquil space, hands-on staff, knowledgeable and highly trained book specialists, offer suggestions of handpicked titles from major, independent and indie publishers: a great selection of books, some exclusive to Oxford Bookstore. The selection features both emerging and established authors from India and the world. Shelves stocked with the best in Indian Writing, International Fiction and Translations take one into a spacious, elongated Reading Room which opens onto a dedicated Events Space. Well-researched sections on Languages and New Age books address issues of addiction, relationships, unexplained phenomena, and showcase the best of thinkers and Indian gurus. A wide range of titles in Travel Writing, books that showcase the very essence of New Delhi and a specially curated section of books on tea are other highlights. Children have an exclusive space for browsing, activities and reading. Parents can look forward to the Top 10 Gift Books in each age group for a quick and easy pick. Amongst the best in books for different age groups are ones that help the young ones deal with experiences relevant to their age.