Draft:Sayoni Basu
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Sayoni Basu | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kolkata, India |
| Education | Presidency College, Kolkata (BA); University College, Oxford (MLitt) |
| Occupations | Editor, publisher, author |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Co-founder of Duckbill Books; children's publishing |
Sayoni Basu is an Indian editor, publisher, and author known for her work in children's and young adult literature in India.[1] She is the co-founder of Duckbill Books.[2]
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Basu was born and educated in Kolkata. She earned a BA in English from Presidency College, Kolkata, followed by a Master's degree in Letters from University College, Oxford.[3]
Career
[edit | edit source]Basu began her publishing career at Oxford University Press (OUP) in Oxford, UK, then moved to OUP Delhi and Penguin India. She transitioned to children's publishing as commissioning editor for Puffin India in 2001.[1][3] From 2005 to 2011, she served as publishing director at Scholastic India.[4] Her subsequent role was as publisher at Amar Chitra Katha from 2011 to 2012.[5][2]
In 2012, Basu co-founded Duckbill Books alongside Anushka Ravishankar, focusing on contemporary Indian children's and YA books.[2][6] The imprint has been recognized for innovative series like the hOle books for early readers, and the Not Our War (NOW) series, exploring themes such as conflict, sexuality, disability, and equality.[7][8]
Duckbill Books has won the Publisher of the Year at the Publishing Next Awards (2019)[9] , South Asian Book Award, Crossword Book Award, Neev Award, ComicCon Award, FICCI Publishing Awards, and was shortlisted for the London Book Fair International Excellence Award (2015).[2][10]
In December 2019, Penguin Random House India acquired Duckbill Books and its backlist, making Duckbill an imprint within PRH India's children's publishing group.[11] Basu continues as Consulting Editor, curating new works and supporting emerging authors.[2]
Since 2022, Basu has served as the commissioning editor for the Songs of Freedom historical fiction series, published under Duckbill (now a Penguin Random House India imprint).[12][13]
Works
[edit | edit source]Basu has co-authored Phiss Phuss Boom: Stories from Our Grandparents (2014) with Anushka Ravishankar and Jerry Pinto,[14] and has contributed as a ghostwriter for several children's books.[15] Basu has also contributed editorial oversight to the Songs of Freedom series (2022–present), including titles such as The Gramophone Girl by Anushka Ravishankar and The Chowpatty Chronicles by Devika Rangachari.[16]
Publishing philosophy
[edit | edit source]Basu supports children’s books that address real-world issues that are right for their age.[7] She says children’s texts should go beyond mythology and moral tales to portray the contemporary Indian life, encouraging new protagonists and themes that reflect the realities of young readers in present times.[17] She speaks about the ability of young readers to engage with complex subjects. She promotes storytelling that encompasses a range of perspectives and approaches, extending beyond traditional folklore.[18] She is critical of conservative approaches with the large publishing houses and believes independent publishers drive creativity and progressive themes in children's literature.[19][20]
Selected awards for Duckbill Books
[edit | edit source]- Publisher of the Year, Publishing Next Awards (2019)[21]
- South Asian Book Award[22]
- Crossword Book Award[23]
- Neev Award[24]
- ComicCon Award[25]
- FICCI Publishing Awards[26]
- Shortlisted, London Book Fair International Excellence Award (2015)[27]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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