SAF Meeting on Media, Publications and SAFDIC

South Asia Foundation
A-33 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110 057
10.00 hrs

Minutes

Participants

SAF Advisors
    Founder    Ambassador Madanjeet Singh
    Advisor      Mr. N. Ram
    Advisor      Mme. France Marquet

Special Invitees
    Dr. Dhooleka Raj, Yale University
    Mr. Harsh Kapoor
    Mr. Sashi Kumar, Chairman ACJ
    Mr. Nishcal Pandey, Secretary SAF - Nepal

SAF-India Officials
    Mr. KJS Prasada Rao, CEO, SAF - India
    Mr. Karan Khosla, Director of Operations, Secretary, SAF – India
    Mrs. Bridget David, SAFDIC
    Mr. Sunil Binjola, IT Coordinator, SAF - India

Welcome address

In his brief introductory remarks, Mr. N. Ram welcomed all attendees and discussed the Agenda in brief; he emphasized that our Documentation Centres, publicity and activities should reflect our secular, democratic attitude and should also work towards a larger goal of preserving our “civilizational heritage”.

Agenda

1 SAFDIC
2 Publicity / DVD
3 Director of Communications
4 Asian College of Journalism, Centres of Excellence, South Asia University
5 Secularism


ITEM No.1: SAFDIC

Re-vision SAFDIC as one of the premier innovative institutions of documentation and information in the region with international links to scholars, artist, media, wider public supporting South Asia focused libraries.
Dr. Dhooleka Raj initiated the discussion by addressing the need for moving SAFDIC into the Virtual domain.

Existing Challenges:
        - Circulation - limited circulation of journals and books – we are a non-lending library
        - Content - limited SAF theme focused; existing holdings are India centric in collection and content
        - Access - limited access to SAFDIC (physically because of location within DEL and by others in the region); non-circulating library 

How can SAFDIC be a unique resource on the region that does not replicate existing libraries?
How do we increase circulation and documentation of primary and secondary sources on South Asia throughout and across the region?

1.1 - As SAFDIC holdings are entirely physical at the moment, a number of key issues were identified:

        - Access to material is severely limited.
        - Digital content on the SAFDIC website is not original and unique.
        - There is no circulation on material.
        - Acquisitions of library material is arbitrary.

A team consisting of Dr. Dhooleka Raj, Mr. Nischal Pandey, Mr. Harsh Kapoor, prepared options for the future of SAFDIC, its repository in Delhi and the development of Virtual Content, in consultation with Mr. Karan Khosla and Mr. KJS Prasada Rao:

1.2.1 - SAFDIC should move into the digital / virtual domain by creating digital archives and expanded documentation Focus Digital Archive on primary source documentation on themes core to SAF and not currently being done by anyone in the region
        Theme I: The Arts
        Theme II: Media
        Theme III: Human Rights
        Theme IV: Kashmir
        Theme V: Youth 
 
1.2.2 - Create original publication on the region as related to SAF activities – Quarterly Newsletter – South Asia Issues

1.2.3 - Create Digital Resources on the Region –

1.2.4 - Create archive of primary source documentation on SAF centers of excellence in the region which is not currently being done.

1.2.5 - Create book reviews and digital archive of books on the region to increase access but also promote SAFDIC To potential users

1.2.6 - In the meantime, SAFDIC Delhi would reduce acquisitions of books to a limit of 300 hundred per year. A hundred books each for topics relevant to Law & Human Rights, Media and the Arts would be selected by a committee. This committee would consist of Mr. Kamal Husssain for acquisitions related to Law & Human Rights, Dr. Salima Hashmi for the Arts and Mr. Sashi Kumar for Media. 
Ambassador Singh suggested the digital content should reflect all the activities, artwork and publications of SAF Group Scholars, Institutions or otherwise. 


ITEM No.2: Publicity / DVD

A 20-seconds DVD about SAF activities was produced and circulated among the Chairpersons to promote SAF activities trough TV Channels in the eight South Asian countries 

2.1 - Mr. Ram said he would write a letter to all SAF chairpersons to offer assistance / advice and encourage them to promote the SAF TV advert.
 
2.2 - In addition, Mr. Ram will get in touch with the editors of DAWN in Pakistan as well as Mr. Mahfuz Anam Editor and Publisher, The Daily Star. in Bangladesh; however, he also noted that advertising in the Maldives and in Afghanistan might be problematic.

2.3 - The 20-second TV promo will be released in early 2008.

2.4 - Mr. Sashi Kumar will check to see if  the TV promo can be shown on BBC and CNN.  He will try to get further discounts on the rates for prime-time TV advertisings.

2.5 - Mr. Nischal Pandey will be responsible for coordinating the simultaneous release of the ad across all the chapters.


ITEM No.3: Director of Communications

Ambassador Singh announced that Mr. Nischal Pandey will assume the post of Director of Communications, under the overall direction of Mr. Ram.

3.1 - He will continue with  his responsibilities as SAF Nepal Secretary.

3.2 - All communications regarding SAF matters will now be coordinated through Mr. Pandey.

3.3 - Ambassador Singh also indicated that Mr. Pandey would be responsible for bringing out a quarterly magazine for SAF, known as the SAF Quarterly. The printing of SAF QUARTERLY will be centralized in Kathmandu, and the first issue shall start publishing from 1st March 2008. He will also make necessary arrangements for the dispatch and transportation of the journal to all the SAF chapters. SAF will pay for the costs of production of the journal and for its dispatch to SAF chapters. The content of this publication would reflect our activities, views and correspondence from benefactors of various SAF programmes, create a SAF Alumnae,, as well as editorials from our various SAF Chairpersons – “Know your SAF Chairperson”. 

        3.3.1 - In the first run, 5000 copies of the SAF Quarterly would be published.

        3.3.2 - Ambassador Singh would provide the first editorial, which would be followed by one from Mr. Ram and  Hon. Mani Shankar Aiyar. 

        3.3.3 - Mr. Ram also encouraged Mr. Pandey to look into the work done by RealNews and other such public news agencies. 


ITEM No.4: South Asia University, Asian College of Journalism / Centres of Excellence

4.1 - South Asia University

Ambassador Singh expressed a view that for practical purpose, the South Asia University should start immediately as an inexpensive coordinating apex body for affiliated Universities/Institutions in SAARC countries which will give SAU sufficient time required to build a centre of excellence like Harvard, Oxford, a number of seats should be reserved for students from the region; SAF would gladly fund scholarships to students selected by the proposed South Asian University who are admitted to SAU’s affiliated Universities/Institutions in SAARC countries.
Ambassador Singh added that the Foreign Secretary: Mr. Shiv Shankar Menon
assured him that he will put this proposal for the consideration of the next meeting of  the Expert Group for the Establishing of South Asia University.
 
4.2 - Asian College of Journalism (ACJ)

Mr. Sashi Kumar, gave a brief historical perspective of how the Institution came to be, as well as information regarding its programmes and benefactors. 

• ACJ was one of the first SAF Million dollar institutes to offer Group Scholarships along with Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, Pakistan.
  
  
• 120 students enroll in the college each year; around 800 apply for these seats.  So far over 2500 students have passed through the college.
  
  
• The college has a strong faculty, which includes of both full time and adjunct professors as well as an Instructor from the BBC Worldwide Trust; the teacher to student ration is 1:12.
  
  
• Currently, ACJ is having its Masters courses evaluated by the University of Cardiff with the hopes of awarding certification.
  
  
• It has developed numerous education modules for institutions such as UNESCO.
  
  
• Students may apply for seats with or without Scholarships, which are offered on a basis of merit / means.

4.3 - SAF Group Scholarships at ACJ

Mr. Sashi Kumar lauded the SAF Bhutan and Sri Lanka chapters for their efforts in making sure that the Group Scholarship student selection process is fair and thorough.  He also said that SAF Pakistan has been a willing and active member, but has been subject to visa and travel constraints. Unfortunately, he indicated that there have been problems with the SAF Afghanistan and Maldives Chapters in regard to their Group Scholarships selection procedures.

4.4 - Institutions of Excellence

Mr. Ram wanted to share the key factors in making a successful institution:

        1) Offer excellent Education and Training programmes.
        2) Offer a transparent and efficient admissions system which would draw from talent, encourage competition and would evaluate scholarships on the basis of merit / means. 
        3) The faculty should draw from both the professional and academic realms.
        4) Post graduation vocational placement should be a focal point.

Mr. KJS Prasada Rao emphasized the necessity for developing a uniform and systematic selection procedure for all SAF Chapters in regard to the Group Scholarship Programme; it was decided that this would be one of the main agenda’s for the next General Council meeting.

4.5 - Institution of Excellence in Afghanistan

Ambassador Singh said that Dr. Tej Singh (from the Lucknow Institute of Preservation) and Dr. Knox (British Museum) had visited the Institute in Afghanistan and submitted a report regarding the operation of the Institute to UNESCO. He also indicated that UNESCO has been asked to offer assistance to all SAF Institutions / Centres of Excellence, as it did with the Institute in Afghanistan. Mr. Barboza, Deputy Director General of UNESCO, will coordinate these efforts with the upcoming SAF Institutions and the various departments of UNESCO; Ambassador Singh will inform all SAF Chairpersons about UNESCO’s assistance.


ITEM No.5: Promotion of Secularism

In order to promote secularism in South Asia, Ambassador Singh suggested that all SAF Chapters should proactively sponsor music and film festivals that are Regional (i.e. clearly have South Asia / SAARC in their agenda) and promote a “Secular themes”. To begin with, it was suggested that SAF could participate in one of the upcoming film festivals that are in rotation amongst the SAARC countries; an award for best film / material might also be offered.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

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