Javadi said at the opening ceremony of the first Tehran Publishing Fellowship: "If children and adolescents from other countries become familiar with each other's mindsets, empathy will be formed and in the future we will no longer witness the usual grudges."
According to Ashura News, citing Mehr correspondent, the first Tehran Publishing Fellowship was inaugurated this morning, Monday, May 12, in the presence of Mohsen Javadi, Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and President of the 36th Tehran International Book Fair, and a group of children's publishing activists from Iran and the world, in the western portico of the Imam Khomeini (RA) Mosalla.
Mohsen Javadi, Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said: The exchange of knowledge in the book sector, especially in the field of translating books into other languages, has a long history in Iranian civilization. It can be said that the main component of Iranian civilization is books.
He continued: Such actions have a thousand-year history in Iran. Many books by great Iranian philosophers and physicians have always been translated into other languages, and that without the existence of an institute or fellowship. At a time when there was no internet or advanced communication facilities, the works of Iranian writers were translated into Latin and found their way to European academies.
The Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance said: "In the space of a hundred years, there have been more than 200 references to the works and books of Avicenna, and it can be said that such actions are part of Iran's cultural identity. I hope that the accumulated experiences of each of you, together, will lead to the translation of Iranian works; and that conditions for mutual translation of works from other countries will also be provided."
He added: "I would also like to thank the Cultural Association of Children's Publishers, the Department of Cultural Associations and Organizations, the Iranian Book and Literature House Institute, and the "Inrotma" literary agency for holding this event. Choosing the topic of children was a smart choice, and if children and adolescents from other countries become familiar with each other's mentalities, empathy will be formed and in the future we will no longer witness the usual grudges."
Iranian children's and young adult books have a high potential for being offered in the global market
Alireza Nourizadeh, Director General of the Office of Publishing Associations and Organizations, referring to the ups and downs in holding the Tehran Publishing Fellowship, said: We are happy that this event finally reached its first session after several days of planning and going through many ups and downs. A dream that existed for many cultural activists and has become a reality today.
He added: The history of the Fellowship in Iran is perhaps as old as the activities of the "Grant Plan", or the plan to support the translation and publication of Iranian books in global markets. During the decade of implementation of this plan, which has been accompanied by prosperity in some years and decline in others, Iranian children's and young adult books have a high potential for being offered in the global market.
The Director General of the Office of Publishing Associations and Organizations said: We decided to hold the first session of the Fellowship focusing on children's and young adult literature. In this regard, the capacity of the Children and Youth Book Publishers Association was used to evaluate and select domestic publishers, and I would like to thank Mr. Foroughi, the chairman of the board of directors of this association, and his colleagues for organizing this event.
He added: In organizing this event, we benefited from the 10-year experience and information capacities of the "Inrotma" literary agency, and a total of 129 applications were registered in the Iran Fellowship system, from which 32 Iranian publishers, agents, and organizations and 32 international publishers and agents from 20 different countries were selected.
Nourizadeh said: The selected books that have reached the contract stage from foreign publishers are to be provided with special support by the Grant Project Secretariat. Although extensive planning has been made to organize this course, we know that we are at the beginning of the journey and that we may also face shortcomings.
31 publishers, organizations and literary agents are present in the fellowship
Fathollah Foroughi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Association of Children and Adolescent Publishers, said: The Cultural Association of Children and Adolescent Publishers, as the representative of Iranian children's book publishers, was able to promote the programs of this fellowship on a wider level through a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish "Intertmay" literary agency. I would like to thank this agency and Dr. Mohammad and hope that our cooperation will continue.
He continued: The Children's Book Writers Association, the Iranian Illustrators Association and representatives from other cultural fields helped us to be successful in selecting the best domestic publishers and their best works.
The chairman of the board of directors of the Cultural Association of Children and Adolescent Publishers said: 31 publishers, organizations and literary agents are present at the fellowship along with guests. Also, for this event, 50 works, including 30 children's book titles and 20 youth book titles, have been reviewed from nearly 150 book titles, which will be eligible for support based on the agreement between the association and the Grant Office.
He added: This decision will help Iranian books expand further in foreign markets. Meanwhile, successful planning and implementation of such activities requires time, a long-term view and continuous follow-up.
Foroughi said: I ask the authorities to help us now in operationalizing the second round of the Children's Book Fellowship. We know the globalizing capacities of Iran's children's books well and we deeply believe that this capacity can help us become a hub for book fellowships in the region in the not-too-distant future. This issue depends on your cooperation to facilitate exchanges and for activists in this field to take action more seriously. In the meantime, the role of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization is also significant and should be remembered.
The chairman of the board of directors of the Cultural Association of Children and Adolescent Publishers said: Through the fellowship, we seek to develop Iranian culture and literature, strengthen the position of Iranian books, increase the capacity for book copyright exchange at the regional and trans-regional levels, make the Iranian grant plan more visible, establish more contact with those involved in children's book production, and introduce Iranian publishing as the central hub of the region.
Modern colonialism dominates the publishing world
Mohammad Agcharay, director of the "Interotema" literary agency, said: As the founder of the Interotema Agency, I thank the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
He added: When we look at the publishing world, we see that a powerful system controls it and a kind of modern colonialism dominates it; But the Eastern countries have not remained silent in the face of it, and today we are witnessing effective cultural programs in Istanbul.
The director of the Intertema literary agency said: Iran has a rich and wonderful history, and the world today needs to know this history, culture and civilization. We must show that where there is war, peace and truth can also grow.
He added: Culture is a kind of struggle. We are publishers and we transfer culture from one place to another. We have currently collaborated with 55 languages and 75 countries, and we know that publishing is not just about books, but about people. I hope the fellowship will help spread peace in the world.
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