Saturday, July 7, 2007

Indian science fiction writers association,India


It seems no one on the web is interested in Indian SF especially Hindi SciFi which is now coming out of a very long period of oblivion and annonimity.Recent efforts to popularize it by Indian sci Fi writers' Association(ISFWA) is commendable .ISFWA is an autonomous organization with at least 50 active sf writers as it's member.It's quarterly publication of sf stories' VIGYAN KATHA'is first of its kind in India.

Science Fiction Writers Meet In India
8th sci fi writers conference was inaugurated by messiah of Indian sci fi writing Jayant Narlikar.It was an unforgetable experience for me.Participants from many Indian languages and regions expressed their concerns over the state of sf writing in Hindi,Tamil,Marathi,Bengla.Assami,Kannad,Malayalam etc.Auarangabad,Maharastra,India thus became a launch-pad for making Indian scifi a global phenomenon.The dates of the great event ie11 and 12th nov 06shall remain with the golden tinge in history of Indian sci fi.Now looking forward to seeing such a nice event again possibly in Varanasi,cultural and spirutual city of India.

Indian scifi meets Jayant Narlikar
A grand scifi writers meet was organised by Indian assosiation of sci fi studies(IASFS),Vellore,Andhra Pradesh,India on 11th and 12th Nov 06 at Aurangabad,a historical city of Maharastra state of India in cllaboration with Marathi Vigyan Parishad and Viggyan Prasar,New Delhi.The event was inaugurated by messiah of Indian scifi, Jayant Narlikar who spoke at length on many aspects of sci fi,its defininition,good and bad scifi,Indianness in sci fi etc.It was infact 8th Indian scifi writers conference and was represented by warlords of sf writers of many Indian languages including Hindi,Bengla,Assami,Kannad,Marathi,Telagu,Malayalam etc.Another attraction of the event was a lively video conferecing with James Gunn,Head of scifi dept., kansas varsity,USA who inter-ailia spoke on cultural effects on scifi writing. President,IASFS Mr.Purusotthaman also delivered a lecture on scifi writings in different Indian languages.Prof.Narhari spoke on Indian response to world sf.The author of this blog presented an overview cn status of scifi writing in Hindi.Devendra Mewadi a veteran Hindi sf writer also spoke on Hindi sf, The event was a greaf success.

38 comments:

  1. Does anyone out there know of an Indian SciFi writer who has been influenced by John Wyndham (The Day Of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos etc.)?

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  2. I am afraid I haven't read this great UK writer as never noticed any of his novels on the bookstalls,Would you please tell more about him and the status of the avialability of his novels in India?

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  3. Well, we are interested in Indian sci-fiction and Indian writing generally. We run a short story competition from the UK and the info below should say it all

    Dear writer/writing group members

    Our latest monthly Global Short Story Competition is open for entries now and we would love you/your members to be involved - and we would love to see some sci-fi entries.

    So if you have not heard about us, what is our background? Well, our previous UK competitions attracted writers from Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States as well as aspiring authors all across the UK and Ireland. So, we got to thinking that the time was ripe a for global short story competition, aimed at showcasing exciting new talent.

    As a published novelist and creative writing tutor, I know there is a lot of talent out there, much of it yet to be discovered. This competition will seek to find, and celebrate, it.

    Already, in our first few competitions, we have had winners from Australia, Canada and the UK.

    We are constantly adding new countries to our competition and entries have come from nations including Italy, France, Romania, Finland, the US, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Korea as well as the UK and Ireland.

    The closing day for each competition is the last day of the month. Writers wishing to find out more, or send entries, should visit www.globalshortstories.net The first prize is £100.

    Those who would rather post their entries, instead of going through the website entry system, can send them direct to me at 18 Milbank Court, Darlington, Co Durham DL3 9PF, or to the Certys office at Livingstone House, 29 High Northgate, Darlington, Co Durham, England DL1 1UQ, marked Global Short Story Competition, and containing a £5 entry fee, with the cheque made out to Certys Limited.

    I can be contacted on 01325-463813 or emailed at john.dean@certys.co.uk if you need more information.

    Many thanks for reading this and I do hope you feel you can support this venture. If you re-enter, remember you need to change the registration details - most people tend to use the same details and put a number on the end ie Bill3

    Yours faithfully

    John Dean (Competition administrator)

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  4. Thanks John,
    I am putting this invitation on my Yahoo Forum on sf
    http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/indiansciencefiction/message/1759
    and look forward some response from members who write sf in English.
    Thanks again for the invitation .
    best,
    arvind mishra

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  5. Hi,
    Am a journalist with the times of India, Bangalore. Am looking at speaking to a few Indian sci-fi writers as I am working on a story about indian sci-fi films. Do let me know if you can help me on this. Mail me to: prathibha.joy@timesgroup.com

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  6. Hi,

    I am a Writer. Could you please give me information about where to get copyright for my writing in INdia.

    Thanks,
    Raj

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  7. @Rajdeep
    Please mail yr queries to
    unmukt.s@gmail.com
    He is a knowledgeable person person to address any query like such.
    arvind

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  8. Hi, when is the next sci-fi meet in India?

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  9. Here is an interesting opportunity you and your readers might be interested in...

    An academic anthology, with the title “NANO goes MACRO: Social Perspectives on Nano-scaled Sciences & Technologies”, is seeking short science fiction stories (2000-3000 words) for inclusion in the publication.

    ‘Nano goes Macro’ will be a book about social and ethical questions related to the advance of nanotechnology. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology refers to any science or technology that works on the scale of 0.1-100 nanometres. This is around the size of an atom, a molecule, a virus or the internal parts of a cell. The reason why science is interested in this scale is that here matter takes on different characteristics from those we experience in our everyday life. Researchers are now learning to manipulate matter at the nano scale, employing the interesting characteristics in new technologies as well as creating entirely novel materials. Current applications of nanotechnology include: self cleaning glass, stain resistant textiles, and vehicles made with light but incredibly strong materials. Visions of future applications, however, go so far as: direct interfaces between our brains and computers, invisible sensors observing and adjusting our health and environment, and an elevator taking us all the way into space.

    ‘Nano goes Macro’ will be a collection of chapters exploring a broad range of social and ethical questions, relating to both present applications and future visions. For example, some philosophers from Australia will ask whether merging biology and electronics will change our self understanding and how we experience the world. A group of European consumer researchers will examine how and why nano products are presented in different ways in the market, and an American Professor of English will describe how science fiction is normalising military nanotechnology research and applications.

    We are now seeking short science fiction stories that explore social and ethical issues of nanotechnology for inclusion in this academic anthology.

    To have your work considered for publication, soft copies can be submitted to nanogoesmacro@gmail.com while hard copies can be sent to ‘Nano goes Macro’, Senter for Vitenskapsteori, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7805, 5020 Bergen, Norway. Enquiries can also be directed to either of the above addresses.

    Submissions due December 1st 2008.

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  10. Nice post: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?url=http://kalkion.com

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  11. Respected Dr.ArvindMishraji,

    How are you?
    Mr.Deshpande has called me reg. sci-fi workshop at Aurangabad.Hope you will also be coming.Sweet memories of Varanasi is still with me.
    With Sincere Regards,

    G.S.Unni Krishnan nair

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  12. When is the Aurangabad meeting?
    Where are more details available?

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  13. @details are awaited-no sooner it comes to me it would be published here .

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  14. are indian /marathi vigyan katha's available in pdf/ebook form for download? if available, pls give link.thanks

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  15. Thanks Meera Joshi for your interest in Sf. Only a few Hindi sf is on this blog too. But for more you have to wait till we upload a compilation shortly!

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  16. So, have the sci-fi meetings been taking place? Where? when?

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    Replies
    1. There are usually one or two sf conference meet every year in India .The information is posted here . Though there is no info of it being in near future. Please be in touch!

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  17. I am interested to know about the sf writers programes. Kindly give some information as I would like to get my science fiction published.
    Thank you,
    J.M.Ovelil

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  18. J.M.Ovelil
    Please mail me your brief bio data . We publish a quarterly Science fiction Maagzine but that is in Hindi ,If you write in English we have to translate it into Hindi first!

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  19. Thank you Dr. Mishra for your prompt reply. I have published about 15 short fictions ( science and Mathematics)through the Goan news papers(Enlish) and now I have a science fiction of 10 chapters, which I would like to publish as a book (English). I need to get the necessary guidance. I am retired School Principal and taught science and methodology of teaching science in India and Nigeria.( My qualifications:- B.Sce M.A.M.Ed).
    J.M.Ovelil

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  20. where publish my marathi sci-fi story?

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  21. Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies will be holding its 14th Indian SF Conference at Cochin (Ernakulam) during the second week of Feb, 2014.Please mark these probable days. I shall let you know other details shortly-Dr.Srinarahari General Secretary, IASFS

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  22. Any updates about the conference which was held in Cochin.

    love messiha

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    Replies
    1. The report is available in Locus June 2014, VOL 72 NO 2. Unfortunately I do not have its print or soft copy!
      Please try to find out a copy yourself.
      Best,
      Arvind

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  23. I would like to translate science fiction stories in Marathi. Pl. Guide me.

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    Replies
    1. hello! Welcome! its good that you are interested in translating stories to Marathi . Please be in touch!

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  25. How do I become member of Sci-fi Writers association ? I am very much interested and wish to contribute. I have penned a sci-fi novel as well.

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  26. Kindly inbox your email for correspondence.
    Arvind Mishra
    drarvind3@gmail.com

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  27. It would be kind of you if you could provide me with some names of Indian colleges that provide science fiction studies as graduational courses.

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    Replies
    1. I am afraid there in my knowledge exist no institution which offers a solely in SF in India.

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    2. That's sad. SF would have been an interesting subject to take up for future studies. SF is provided in many institutes abroad , but none in our country. Anyway, thanks for your reply.

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  29. Just visited. Let us do something...

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